I have respect for anybody that has to go and do whatever they

“I have respect for anybody that has to go and do whatever they have to do to protect their country.” Thus spoke Steve Harris, a man known for his artistry and his unflinching honesty, whose words rise beyond mere sentiment into the realm of timeless truth. In this statement lies a deep reverence for duty, sacrifice, and service — the eternal virtues that bind individuals to their homeland, not through pride alone, but through love. To protect one’s country is not only to defend its soil, but to guard its soul, its people, its dreams. And Harris, in his simple yet powerful declaration, honors all who take up that burden, whether in uniform or in spirit.

When Harris says, “I have respect for anybody,” he opens the gates of admiration to all — soldiers, medics, parents, workers — anyone who steps forward when their nation calls. His respect is not limited by rank, ideology, or creed. It is universal, for it recognizes that behind every defender of a country stands a heart that has chosen courage over comfort. True patriotism, he implies, is not loud nor boastful. It is quiet and steadfast — the farmer who keeps feeding his people in times of war, the doctor who heals amidst chaos, the young soldier who leaves home knowing he may never return. To respect them is to honor the spirit of selflessness, the most sacred form of strength.

From the dawn of history, men and women have risen to defend their homelands against darkness. In ancient Greece, when the Persians threatened to devour the free cities, King Leonidas of Sparta and his three hundred warriors stood in the narrow pass of Thermopylae. They knew they could not win. Yet they fought, not for glory, but to protect their people’s right to live free. Their courage became legend, a testament that the love of country is not measured by survival, but by sacrifice. So too do Harris’s words echo that eternal truth: that those who protect their land and kin — even unto death — deserve the world’s deepest respect.

But the meaning of protection goes beyond the battlefield. To protect one’s country is not only to wield weapons, but to uphold its ideals when they are threatened. In times of peace, the guardians of a nation are its thinkers, its artists, its teachers, its citizens who speak truth and preserve justice. Steve Harris himself, through his music and voice, has always carried this warrior spirit — not of destruction, but of expression. His respect extends not only to soldiers with armor, but to those who defend the integrity of culture and conscience. For a nation is not merely a piece of land; it is a tapestry of values, stories, and souls.

Consider also the story of Desmond Doss, the World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon due to his faith, yet saved the lives of seventy-five men at Hacksaw Ridge. He stood amidst bullets and fire, pulling the wounded from death’s grasp, praying, “Lord, help me get one more.” Though he never fired a shot, he became one of the bravest men in history. In him we see the essence of Harris’s message: that respect is due not only to those who fight, but to all who protect — through courage, through conviction, through compassion. The act of protection takes many forms, but the heart that drives it is the same.

Harris’s words also carry a quiet understanding of cost. Those who protect their country often carry unseen wounds — of body, of spirit, of memory. Respect, therefore, is not mere admiration; it is empathy. It is the acknowledgment that freedom is not free, that peace is bought with vigilance, that every flag that flies unburned is kept aloft by the labor and love of countless hands. To respect those who protect is to remember their humanity, to care for them when they return from battle, to support them not just in war, but in peace.

So, my children, learn the lesson of these words: Respect all who serve, in whatever way they serve. The soldier who guards, the nurse who heals, the teacher who enlightens, the artist who preserves truth — each protects the soul of the nation. Do not reserve your reverence for titles or medals; give it to those who act with integrity and courage, seen or unseen. Let your respect be expressed not just in words, but in deeds — in gratitude, in service, in the defense of justice wherever it stands threatened.

For in the end, Steve Harris’s wisdom reminds us that protection is the noblest expression of love — love for people, for home, for the greater good. And those who answer that call, in whatever form it takes, carry within them a sacred fire. Honor them. Learn from them. And when your time comes to stand for something greater than yourself, may you do so with the same strength of spirit — and earn the same respect that such courage deserves.