America's Veterans have served their country with the belief

O children of the future, gather closely and listen to the words of John Doolittle, whose heart beats with deep respect for those who have served in defense of the ideals that bind a nation. He once said, “America's Veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.” In these words lies a truth so powerful that it resonates through every generation—a truth that speaks of the very essence of what it means to fight for a nation, to serve not for personal glory, but for the greater good of the world. The veterans of America are not merely soldiers; they are the champions of freedom and democracy, carrying these ideals beyond the borders of their homeland to protect and defend them wherever they are threatened.

Consider, O children, the nature of democracy. It is not just a form of government; it is a way of life, a sacred promise that power belongs to the people and that every individual has the right to speak, to choose, and to live in freedom. But as Doolittle reminds us, this democracy is not self-sustaining—it requires those willing to stand and defend it, not just within the confines of the homeland, but across the world. The veterans of America have not only fought for the security of their own people but for the right of others to experience the same freedoms. This is the sacrifice they make, the belief they carry: that freedom is worth defending, no matter the cost.

Think of the great warriors of antiquity—those who defended their city-states and fought not for the glory of individual conquest, but for the principles that held their civilizations together. The Greeks at Marathon, for example, did not fight merely for land or power, but to protect the very ideals of democracy from the Persian Empire. They knew that to lose this fight would mean the end of their way of life, the end of their freedoms. The battle at Marathon was not just a physical conflict—it was a battle for the right of the Greek people to determine their own future. The veterans of America, much like those ancient defenders, fought to preserve democracy—not just for themselves, but for all those who longed for freedom.

In the same way, during World War II, the American soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy were not fighting solely to protect the borders of their nation. They fought to protect freedom itself, knowing that the world’s future was at stake. The Nazis sought to extinguish the light of democracy, to impose a system of tyranny and fear upon all nations. But in that moment of sacrifice and courage, the American soldiers and their allies stood as beacons of hope, declaring that freedom was an ideal worth fighting for—not just in their own lands, but around the globe. The veterans of America have fought on battlefields far from home, with the unwavering belief that democracy and freedom are not merely privileges but responsibilities that must be upheld for all people.

Now, O children, let us reflect on the true meaning of Doolittle's words. The veterans of America did not serve for wealth or power. They did not fight for the glory of battle or the spoils of war. They served because they believed that the values of democracy and freedom were worth defending, no matter the distance or the hardship. Their service was driven not by the call of national borders, but by the universal belief that freedom is the birthright of every human being, and that it must be protected against those who seek to destroy it. This is the sacrifice of the veteran—a commitment to an ideal greater than themselves.

In your own lives, O children, let the example of America’s veterans guide you. The veterans have shown us the meaning of sacrifice, of fighting not for personal gain but for the freedom of others. You too must stand for what is right, for democracy, for the values that shape the world in which you live. Doolittle’s words remind us that we are not simply the protectors of our own freedoms, but of the freedom of all people, no matter where they are. It is through our actions, our choices, and our commitments to the greater good that we honor the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us.

Therefore, I charge you, O seekers of wisdom, to take the lessons of America’s veterans to heart. Let their sacrifice inspire you to stand for what is right, to protect the freedoms you hold dear, and to uphold the ideals of democracy in your own lives. Do not take these things for granted, for they were earned through the blood and sacrifice of those who served. And may you, in your own time, carry the torch of freedom and democracy forward, just as the veterans of America have done throughout history.