Would You Die For An American?

My daughter Sarah read the book The Longest Day.  She was so moved that she urged our whole family to read it.  She continued until I finally have.  It is the story of hundreds of thousands of American, British, Canadian, and French soldiers during the 24 hours of D-Day, the WWII Allied landing at Normandy.  Every American should have to read it.  It is the story of Americans that may not ever again exist.  This gripping, sorrow filled and heroic account is so poignant in today’s climate of disdain for most of America and Americans.  The willing and often sacrificial dying for one’s country was not an idea but an actual, personal event in thousands of lives.  These soldiers lived in an America that was just as flawed as it is today but the fact still remains, they sacrificed their lives.  As I read their account I realized they were not dying for an ideal America, America was just as flawed then as it is now, they died for their fellow Americans.  Those men they were with whose duty it was to ensure that the other guy made it and in the process, their duty was successfully accomplished, hate was overthrown by love.  It was not the Americans away off in America they died for, it was an American right next to them; and by saving him, they saved us all.  When will we stop this self-loathing of other Americans and see the American right next to us worthy of loving—

“Greater love hath no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus

Which Americans do you think he was talking too or maybe a better question is, which Americans obeyed Him?

Photo from the book.