Sunday was my 249th birthday. On the positive side, I don’t feel a day over 77. The Marine Corps, founded on November 10, 1775, still stands on the front lines of freedom despite the tremendous efforts to weaken the high standards that take civilians and turn them into one of “The Few, the Proud, the Marines.”

Today, on Veterans Day, it feels like we’re awakening from a bad dream. For the past 16 years, we have heard that the old America was no longer a reality. Starting with Barack Obama and continuing with Joe Biden after a brief interlude with Donald Trump, “patriotism” was no longer in vogue. We were told we’re a hopelessly racist country and, according to DEI, beyond redemption. Nothing we could do would change our racist roots. Change was hopeless. Deal with it!

During the first Trump administration, he tried to rebuild the hollowed-out military he inherited from Obama. The generals and admirals, the warriors forced out by Obama, were replaced by politically correct, kinder, gentler souls who didn’t want to offend anyone. Trump admitted as he campaigned that he made big mistakes in who he put in positions of leadership. He says he will not make the same mistake twice.

The world is a much more dangerous place than it was when Trump left office. The Middle East is on fire, and the war in Ukraine is nearing three years. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are much more dangerous enemies. Moreover, thanks to an incompetent Biden administration, we possibly have thousands, if not tens of thousands, of terrorists who have walked into our country since 2021.

Americans love a challenge. If Trump fires the current top level of incompetent military leaders and restores the standards that once made us the greatest military on earth, we can once again cause our enemies to fear us and our allies to trust us. We need to pray for Trump to have godly wisdom to make these critical decisions.

Our work is cut out for us, but never underestimate the patriotic spirit of America. I believe we will see young men and women rise up to join the ranks of our Armed Forces so that we can once again be a source of hope and freedom for oppressed nations around the globe. America has faced seemingly hopeless situations throughout our history — Valley Forge, Antietam, Normandy, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir. All of these battles appeared hopeless but for the courage of generations of America’s warriors!

We may have been given another chance to restore America’s values, but it will not come easily. The fight to restore our freedoms begins today. God has shown His mercy and grace to America once again. He has not given us the government we deserve. We have a small window to pray for the next Great Awakening to shake our nation. We need to fall on our knees to see a true transformation that makes God great in America again.

Today, we thank the generations of veterans who have served — and those who are currently serving — on the ramparts of freedom. You are not forgotten. America is still safe and free thanks to your sacrifices. Happy Veterans Day!

Something to pray about!
Semper Fidelis