Ronald Reagan’s D-Day Remembrance Speech, June 6, 1984

Here in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.” Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

We call them “The Greatest Generation”, but what does that mean, really? They fought and died; some for freedom, some to end Fascism, others out of loyalty to their country.

What have we given them in return? Their values and their ways seem old-fashioned to us. We call them “The Greatest Generation”, but some laugh behind their backs.

Given the chance, would we fight as they did for the freedom they made possible? Or will our country’s future be defined by bunch of spoiled, nihilistic douchebags who stand for little more than anarchy and depravity?