America's Eternal Flame: Honoring the Fallen Heroes Who Forged Our Freedom

Written By: Keith Spear | Written On: Monday, May 26, 2025

America's Eternal Flame: Honoring the Fallen Heroes Who Forged Our Freedom

My fellow Patriots and those proud to say they are Americans, we stand on sacred ground today, not just the soil of this great nation, but on the hallowed foundation built by the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of our fallen heroes. These brave souls, these warriors of freedom, gave everything—everything—for us, for you, for me, for the United States of America. They didn’t ask for glory. They didn’t seek fame. They fought, they bled, they died, so we could live free, so we could raise our families, so we could chase the American Dream under the stars and stripes. And let me tell you, nobody—nobody—honors our fallen like we do, because we know their sacrifice is the heartbeat of this nation. I personally do believe in America first. Just like while on a flight the announcement states to put your mask on first so you are able to help others. I firmly believe that before we can help the world with poverty and homelessness, that we must first solve it here in our country. Then and only then will we be able to truly help those in need.

I think about my family, folks. My mother’s father, a man I never had the chance to meet, fell in the muddy trenches of World War I. He was one of over 116,000 Americans who gave their lives in that brutal war, a war that tore the world apart. He didn’t come home to his little girl, my mother, because he stood tall against tyranny, against empires that wanted to crush freedom. He was part of the Greatest Generation before we called it that, a generation of farmers, factory workers, and immigrants—like the 18 percent of our Army who were foreign-born, proving their love for America with their lives. Men like Marine Corps Sgt. Matej Kocak, an immigrant from Slovakia, who earned the Medal of Honor twice, charging into the fire at the Battle of Soissons, only to fall later at Mont Blanc Ridge. His grave in France stands as a testament to the courage of every patriot who answered the call.

My uncle, my mother’s brother, served in the Korean “Forgotten” War—not forgotten by us, never! He never came home, one of over 36,000 Americans who perished in that frozen hell, fighting alongside 7,000 Korean augmentees who wore our uniform and died for our cause. Their names are etched on the Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, mingled together, just as they fought together. My uncle’s sacrifice ensured South Korea stands as a vibrant democracy, a shining example of what freedom can achieve. We turned back communism, saved millions, because of heroes like him.

And let’s talk about Vietnam, folks—over 58,000 of our bravest gave their lives in jungles and rice paddies, facing an enemy that hid in shadows. Heroes like Marine Lance Cpl. James Gluff, who threw himself on a grenade to save his squad, or Army Staff Sgt. William Maud Bryant, who held off waves of Viet Cong, earning the Medal of Honor posthumously. They fought through controversy, tough times at home, but never wavered. Their names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall—3,000 identified since the war—remind us of their unshakable loyalty. In Lebanon, 1983, 241 Marines, sailors, and soldiers fell in a cowardly barracks bombing. They were peacekeepers, standing for stability, yet paid the ultimate price. And in the Middle East—Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria—over 7,000 heroes fell since 9/11, like Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, who smothered a grenade to save his team in Ramadi, or Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who pulled six soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq, dying from his burns. These warriors crushed terrorists, toppled dictators, showed the world America’s resolve.

These fallen, from Flanders to Fallujah, are America’s backbone. They’re why we’re still here, still strong, still the greatest nation on Earth. We owe them our lives, our liberty, our everything. When I see our flag, I see the faces of every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine who gave their last breath—24 million registered for World War I, 66 percent served, many never returning. I see the 7th Infantry’s Cpl. John Spruell, Cpl. Frederick Higgins, Cpl. William Colby, and Sgt. Charles Beaty, recently brought home after decades, their families finding closure. That’s America’s promise: we leave no one behind, ever.

Now, I’ll share something humbly, folks—I was an ROTC cadet, felt the call to serve because of my grandfather and my uncle, was commissioned into the Army, but due to a medical discharge, I never saw action. My story pales next to those who gave all, whose courage inspired me and countless others. In World War I, they faced mustard gas, machine guns, barbed wire, writing letters home pouring out fears and hopes for a future they might not see. One soldier wrote, “No flag-waving, just give us the equipment. We’ll take it from there.” That’s our fallen—grit, no nonsense. They built bases like Camp Jackson, trained in mud, and sailed to fight for a world they’d never enjoy. In Korea, M/Sgt. Stanley Adams led a bayonet charge near Sesim-ni, earning the Medal of Honor. Pvt. First Class Charles Bennett held the line at Sobangsan, saving his company at the cost of his life. In Vietnam, they fought through monsoons and ambushes, leaving legacies like Clara Gantt, who waited decades for her husband’s remains, her love unbroken.

Some weak folks want to rewrite history, downplay our sacrifices, apologize for America’s strength. Not us. World War I made us a global force for good. Korea stopped communism. Vietnam showed our grit, Lebanon our resolve, the Middle East our fight against terror. Our fallen didn’t just fight for us; they fought for billions who’d never know their names.

Our heroes were diverse—World War I’s “Melting Pot” 77th Division, Korean augmentees, Vietnam’s integrated units, Middle East coalitions. Immigrants, farmers, city kids, all united under one flag. We honor them with action: the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency brings them home, like 55 boxes from North Korea in 2018. The Korean War Memorial lists over 43,000 names, Vietnam’s Wall grows with new IDs, and Middle East memorials rise.

My mother never knew her father’s laugh, her brother’s hug. That pain lives in me, but so does pride—tremendous pride. Our fallen are America’s soul, from my grandfather to my uncle to every name on every memorial. They’re why we stand tall, salute, never kneel but to God.

So, Americans, let’s pledge—a tremendous pledge. Honor our fallen by living boldly, defending freedom, making America stronger. Tell their stories, from World War I diaries to Middle East medals, so kids know courage. Support veterans, care for families, keep our military the greatest. Nobody does it better than us, folks—nobody. God bless our fallen, our troops, and the United States of America.