Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s conversation with his son about the sacrifice of the Operation Epic Fury fallen troops is a reminder to all Americans of the importance of honoring those who sacrificed everything so we could be free. And more parents, grandparents, and mentors should be reminding young people to be grateful that Americans their own age died so they could have a better future.
Hegseth met the remains of fallen troops and talked to family members. On March 19, Hegseth discussed the progress of Operation Epic Fury, the Americans who died taking apart the Iranian regime, and how he is already trying to pay the sacrifice of those troops forward by impressing gratitude and patriotic responsibility on the next generation.
As part of his press briefing, Hegseth reflected, “Yesterday's ceremony reminded us why we fight. Not for nation building, or democracy promotion, but to crush direct threats to America, Americans, and our interests. We fight to win, and we are winning — on our terms, following our objectives.”
.@SECWAR “Yesterday’s ceremony reminded us why we fight—not for nation-building or democracy promotion—but to CRUSH DIRECT THREATS to America, Americans, and our interests.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 19, 2026
We fight to win, and we are winning. On our terms.
“My 13-year-old son popped into my office last night… pic.twitter.com/T4DdNvNOsC
American and Israeli strikes have significantly depleted Iranian leadership, missile stockpiles, and military ships. Hopefully, the destruction of the world‘s biggest state sponsor of terrorism will be so complete that there can be regime change as the Persians take charge of their country once again.
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But after emphasizing American successes, Hegseth added, “My 13-year-old son popped into my office last night while I was editing these remarks. He asked about the war, and the families I met at Dover. And I looked at him, and I said, ‘They died for you, son, so that your generation doesn't have to deal with a nuclear Iran.’ It's the truth, and they did.”
Both Hegseth and President Donald Trump have said that multiple parents of the fallen service members have asked them to finish the task for which their children died. At the press briefing, Hegseth stated:
So, to the families who said, ‘Finish this,’ we will. And I say the same to every American who wants peace through strength. May Almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight. And again, to the American people, please pray for them every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ. To the troops, keep going, and Godspeed.
Hegseth has here emphasized several virtues that too many Americans, especially young Americans, lack now. Gratitude is a foundational virtue for all others, but leftists have been working overtime for decades to convince Americans that we are all victims living in a horrible country instead of some of the most privileged people in history.
Furthermore, Hegseth highlighted trust in God, the only King the Founding Fathers recognized, to Whom we should always turn in times of national crisis. Finally, Hegseth emphasized the passing on of patriotic fervor from one generation to the next. The service members who died have placed us under an obligation not to waste their sacrifice and to raise the next generation of heroes who will protect us from threats both foreign and domestic.
