A Loyalty Day 2020 Presentation by VFW Post 12135
(Live gathering restricted by COVID-19)
Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia
Excerpts from a speech given in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon Hall of Heroes Medal of Honor Induction Ceremony for U.S. Army David G. Bellavia on June 26, 2019.
“Why do American warriors under fire do what men have done since this nation’s inception? This is a common thread that connects the militias of Lexington and Concord with the warriors of Fallujah: It is our love of nation, our way of life, and our love by those who we serve with side-by-side.
We defend. We avenge. We sacrifice. We bleed. And we are willing to die for this unique creation, the United States of America.
It is our duty to tell the story of our brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our fellow citizens. Our survival as a nation depends on it.
Our military should not be mistaken for a cable news gabfest show. We don’t care what you look like. We don’t care who you voted for, who you worship, what you worship, who you love. It doesn’t matter if your dad left you millions when he died, or if you knew who your father was. We have been honed into a machine of lethal moving parts that you would be wise to avoid if you know what’s good for you.
We will not be intimidated. We will not back down.
We’ve seen war. We don’t want war. But if you want war with the United States of America, there’s one thing I can promise you, so help me God: Someone else will raise your sons and daughters. We fight so our children never have to.
We fight for one day when our children and our enemy’s children can discuss their differences without fear or loathing.
We fight so that anyone out there thinking about raising arms against our citizens or allies realize the futility of attrition against a disciplined, professional, and lethal force built to withstand anything you can dream of throwing at us.
Americans want this kind of country. Americans want this kind of world. And we stand ready to defend it, to protect us, so help us God.”