Faith, courage, perseverance: What it means to be an American Published Nov. 28, 2006 By Lt Col Dan Richard 71st Flying Training Wing Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- These are troubling times for Americans. The last few years have been tough -- the blatant attacks on our country on Sept. 11, 2001, the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and the all too real understanding that many people around the world hate us simply because we are Americans. All of these issues made me reflect back to our previous generations (sorry, I'm an old history teacher) and see what our forefathers thought it meant, "to be an American." FAITH: The first person we can learn from is our initial Commander-in-Chief, George Washington. During the autumn of 1777, his Continental Army was getting manhandled by the British troops and the American Revolution was teetering on failure. After a series of crushing defeats, General Washington took his poorly equipped army to Valley Forge, Pa., for the winter. With little shelter, clothing, or provisions, the American Army of less than 10,000 troops were pitted against the strongest military in the world. The English empire had never allowed a colony to separate from their ranks, and it appeared the American rebellion would soon be squashed. General Washington had every reason to believe his defeat was imminent, but he wouldn't accept that as a final outcome. Instead he united his forces, for he believed, "the cause was a righteous one" and America would become a beacon for other nations to emulate. We all know what happened next: the American forces began to fight with a renewed vigor and the English surrendered their rights to the American colonies three years later. COURAGE: The young republic soon became a vibrant country and all too soon the war drums were beating again. It was July 1, 1863 when more than 150,000 American troops faced off against each other in a small Pennsylvania hamlet called Gettysburg. The next three days produced some of the fiercest fighting in American history. Almost 55,000 Civil War soldiers became casualties in only 72 hours of fighting. President Lincoln soon visited the Battlefield of Gettysburg and while en route wrote the Gettysburg Address. The unwavering conviction and moral courage to "stay the course" displayed by President Lincoln ensured the Union remained whole. In spite of the massive casualties and the overwhelming destruction, President Lincoln understood the "torch of freedom" could never be extinguished, no matter what the cost! PERSEVERANCE: In 1942, almost 70,000 American troops fighting in the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese forces. This stinging defeat was just one in a series of devastating American losses suffered after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The American military was not prepared to engage in a global conflict, and the ill-prepared army at Bataan paid the price. The Japanese captors began marching the American Prisoners of War 60 miles to their concentration camp, and their odyssey became known as the "Bataan Death March." The Japanese were ruthless; any prisoner who broke ranks, became ill or asked for assistance was killed and left behind. One out of every four Americans never made it to their destination. True to the American spirit, the American warriors in the Pacific theater regrouped after the atrocities and triumphantly returned to the Philippines two years later. How do these historic events relate to our lives today? Throughout our wonderful history, external and internal forces have often attempted to dampen the flames of democracy and liberty. We are fighting against the same type of tyranny and injustice today. Our founding fathers knew the importance of their actions; the faith, courage and perseverance they demonstrated are a template for us to follow. So as we struggle as a nation to "stay the course," remember what General Washington stated to inspire his troops, "the cause is a righteous one" and this glorious country we've created really is a beacon on a hilltop.