Drawing inspiration from the words and leadership of former President Ronald Reagan, the following message reflects the core values he often emphasized: unity, service, and dedication to our nation. Direct quotes from Reagan are italicized.

“My fellow Americans, I’ve always believed that we’re a nation that never stops striving to be better. It’s who we are at our core. And today, let’s talk about something that touches the very heart of what makes this country great, honoring the men and women of our armed forces. These brave men and women embody the very best of us. To them, words like service, sacrifice, and duty aren’t just ideals, they are a way of life.

“You might remember me as the guy with a fondness for jelly beans, a good joke, and an unshakable belief that America’s best days were always ahead of us. And if not, just think of me as a friendly soul reminding you that freedom, like those jelly beans, never goes out of style. Yes, you’ve heard me proclaim, that ‘Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.’ The men and women of our armed forces have taken up that fight. They’ve protected our freedom at great personal cost. All so that we and future generations can continue to live in this blessed land of liberty. Now, let’s honor their sacrifice, and let’s keep that flame of freedom burning bright, so that America’s best days are still ahead of us.

“Now, you may have heard some folks using words like ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ to describe our military. Well, let me set the record straight. That’s wrong and downright un-American! Our service members aren’t pawns in anyone’s political games. They are our heroes, the guardians of our freedom, the defenders of our democracy, and the protectors of our rule of law. They are the reason our beautiful flag keeps flying high, free, and proud. For all this, ‘we owe them a debt we can never repay.’

“Now, I know common sense isn’t always so common, but you don’t have read a book to know that our military isn’t made up of ‘losers.’  And as for the recent political antics at Arlington? Well, let’s be clear, that’s not just any patch of land. It’s ‘hallowed ground’ that ‘never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery’ for those who gave their lives. The men and women who rest there personify the enduring, beating heart of what makes this nation great. ‘They gave up everything for our country, for us.’ So, how can we, as a free and proud people, allow their honor to be tarnished by careless words or callous actions? The answer is simple. We can’t, and we won’t. Not on our watch.

“Indeed, my fellow Americans, we’re not talking about political rough-housing even as bad as that is. What we’re talking about here strikes at the very heart of who we are and who we strive to be as a nation. We all witnessed our precious democracy being threatened and shaken on January 6th, 2021. We saw how sometimes fragile our principles of law and order truly are. This was not some harmless stunt. It was an unlawful, unconstitutional, violent assault on the peaceful transfer of power, on our democratic institutions, and on everything that binds this incredible nation together. And let me tell you, folks, when the constitutional glue that holds us together is violated and cracked, it’s up to all of us to patch it up and make it stronger than ever.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, ‘If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.’ January 6th was a sobering reminder of what can happen when we let the bonds of unity be torn apart by crass name calling, self-serving falsehoods, and reckless ambition. And let’s be honest, folks, such division may grab headlines, but it sure won’t get us anywhere constructive. Those who incited that violence didn’t just stir up chaos. They killed people, and they betrayed what our brave men and women in uniform have fought to protect for generations. These are lines we don’t cross, and it’s up to us to ensure that it never happens again.

“Please remember my words: ‘Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.’ What we saw on January 6th was the opposite of that. It was a rejection of everything good, noble, and frankly, decent about our country. It wasn’t a bad day in the news cycle. It was an unforgettable wrong to our liberty that should remind us to hold tightly to the values we hold dear. We can’t afford to ignore what happened or who was behind it. The future of our democratic republic depends on us learning from that day. After all, America’s has always been at its best when we take the hard lessons together, roll up our sleeves, and turn our hard experiences into something better.

“I’m not one to be easily disheartened, but we’ve all heard the words of a particularly disrespectful man who claimed that prisoners of war weren’t heroes, saying he liked ‘people who weren’t captured.’ Let me set the record straight, Senator John McCain, along with every service member who has fought, bled, and sacrificed for this country, is a hero. McCain is not a ‘loser.’ Remember how I praised Senator Jeremiah Denton, another prisoner of war. Denton showed ‘us all what it means to have courage, to stand firm in the face of unspeakable cruelty, and to maintain an unyielding faith in the cause of freedom.’ Well, those same words apply to Senator John McCain and to every brave soul who has put their life on the line for our country. And the disrespectful people, who belittled our heroes’ extraordinary bravery and strength, have no understanding of what makes America truly great.

“My fellow Americans, I call on all of us to remember the values that have made this country a shining beacon of hope and freedom. We didn’t get here by accident, and we certainly won’t stay here by taking those values for granted. So, let’s honor our military with the deep respect they’ve earned, and extend that same respect to one another and to the democracy they’ve fought to protect.

“Now, I know it might seem like we’re more divided than ever these days, but our history reveals a compelling hope. We’ve always been at our best when we come together united in purpose. And trust me, when Americans, with all their differences, put their hearts and minds to something, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

“I know I’m not here in the flesh able to share my jar of jelly beans, but humor an old president for a moment. Flaws and all, please, remember too what was best about me, and what is best about our country. Let’s set aside the excessive politics and division. Instead, let’s focus on the values that unite us, the honor, respect, and unity our country needs. These values, supported by our respectful words and actions, don’t require perfection or a particular party affiliation. They just require our good hearts and the will to put this into practice.

“Thank you, America, for honoring those who serve our country and for continuing to build a nation where freedom can endure for generations to come. May God bless our troops, our veterans, our democracy, and all us people who live and work for this great country, the United States of America.”

Ronald Reagan had a special gift for seeing and expressing the best in America and its people. He deeply respected the values that make our nation strong: freedom, unity, and optimism for the future. Today, his words and spirit remind us that we have the power to rise higher, strive for more, and come together with a shared purpose. In doing so, we protect the democracy that so many have sacrificed for and reclaim our lives from the sad divisiveness that has plagued us for too long. This path begins with simple steps: honoring our heroes, respecting one another, and safeguarding our democracy. The future of this great country depends on us.