“Americans Never Quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We Make History." ~ John McCain
The Battle at the Alamo - March 6 1836
Day 20 of True American Pride month for me. Today I remember and honor a quality that can be seen time and again throughout the history of this country; displayed in both heroic and small ways. Perserverance.
As the late Senator McCain said above (and was an epitome of himself during his time as a Vietnam War POW), Americans never quit. No matter the odds, no matter how great the challenge or how long it takes, Americans have worked to perservere.
The very founding of this country 248 years ago - 13 individual colonies daring to fight for independence against the greatest power in the world at the time - established this precedent and principle in our national ethos.
So today I’m celebrating that American principle of perserverance and defiance.
Here are just a few of the historical examples of this that are some of my favorites.
The immortal words of Patrick Henry at the Virginia Assembly - March 23 1775
“I have not yet begun to fight!” - John Paul Jones (when asked by the British to surrender) - September 23 1779
Gen. Anthony McAuliffe when also asked to surrender - December 22 1944
Jackie Robinson, Opening Day MLB - April 15 1947
Elizabeth Eckford - 1st Day of School Little Rock AR Sept 4 1957
Todd Beamer's last words - United Flight 93, September 11 2001
Americans...especially every day citizens...are the true leaders of this country...because they will never quit on this country. Or what's true. God Bless America and those who never quit on her.