As we remember those who serve and have served our country, I wanted to find something that tells us a little about the motivation behind the sacrifices made by our military men and women. I found it in the speech given by Ronald Reagan at his first inaugural address when he told the story known as A Soldier’s Pledge.
President Reagan tells the story of Private Martin Treptow, a barber who enlisted with the Iowa National Guard and became a part of the 168th Infantry of the 42nd Division (the famous Rainbow Division) during World War I. Treptow was killed during the war while delivering a message between battalions. Martin’s diary was found on his body and on the flyleaf under the heading, “My Pledge”, he wrote these words:
“America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.”
Be sure to take some time today to remember and give thanks for these great American heroes by giving a listen to Ronald Reagan as he tells the story of A Soldier’s Pledge.
David Leach is the owner of the Strident Conservative. He holds people of every political stripe accountable for their failure to uphold conservative values, and he promotes those values instead of political parties.
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