[November 11, 2017] A few days ago Boy Scout Troops from across the rural area where I live, gathered at a local Veterans Cemetery to plant American flags on each grave. Yes, that’s what we call “old-fashioned leadership” and it works like it has always worked. Communities throughout the world have relied on small-town leadership since the beginning where humans gathered in small settlements.
Each boy was a patriot. I know, I asked each of them. From the adult leaders to the boys themselves, and to their parents, it made a sight that made me smile and it would lighten the heart of anyone witness to their efforts at the cemetery. But their efforts go beyond that to honor veterans; they collect cans of food, march in parades with vets, and go to homes of older vets to help around their house.
They also like to watch movies … what young boy doesn’t. Below are a few of my personal favorite patriotic movies. Look them up on your television and watch a few this weekend.
A salute to all our military veterans!
… and now for a dozen Patriotic movies for your entertainment pleasure. You don’t have to be an American to enjoy these movies because they all target those human characteristics
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – Not all patriotic movies are about war or violence but sometimes about honesty versus corruption.
- Sergeant York (1941) – A great movie about the most famous American hero, Sergeant Alvin C. York who earned the Medal of Honor.
- Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) – Story of the U.S. Marines on the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima.
- The Longest Day (1962) – One of my personal favorites, this classic about the most important day of World War II, the D-Day landings in Normandy.
- Patton (1970) – Iconic World War II movie about Patton’s Third Army.
- The Right Stuff (1983) – A film on the lives of the Mercury Seven, those who volunteered to blast off at a time-space travel was exceptionally dangerous.
- Top Gun (1986) – An American classic that shows us U.S. Navy fighter jets flying around for nearly two hours.
- Glory (1989) – The movie tells the story of one of the first all-black Union army regiments in the American Civil War.
- Forrest Gump (1984) – Touches on early rock’n ‘roll, the Vietnam War, the drug culture, and much more.
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) – One of the greatest war movies ever made but it’s more than about fighting.
- The Patriot (2000) – A war move about the American Revolutionary War.
- Miracle (2004) – Great sports movie about the American underdog hockey team versus the Soviet Union’s heavily favored team.
Here is my list of the “Top 20 War Movies” from a couple of years ago (see link here).
Have a Happy Veterans Day.
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