10-4 Magazine / July 2026 43 one people. Following this tumultuous conflict, there was a time of expansion and exploration. The West became the new frontier and, once again, it took conflict to secure our place west of St. Louis. Many of the displaced, newly minted citizens from the South, went on to populate these areas. They fought in the Mexican American War (1846-1848) and defeated Santa Anna’s well-funded and thought to be superior army. In the end, Texas became a new state. It was men like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett who forged that spirit of independence. We can still hear their battle cry, forged in blood and lead, as they fought in a little mission (church) where they knew the odds were not in their favor. But they stood watch and never surrendered, fighting to the last man. Today we still say, “Remember the Alamo” in honor of their sacrifice. Throughout this nation’s history men have stepped up for the cause of liberty. Those who marched off to war have done so for the protection of the homeland. When called upon, they have protected the oppressed around the world. During the 20th century, our “greatest generation” stepped in and defended those who were threatened by tyrannical governments and the leaders who imposed death and destruction on anyone who they considered inferior. During the Second World War, it was America’s fighting force that liberated Europe (our troops were celebrated in the streets and greeted by grateful people). Later, they defeated the Japanese in the Pacific Islands after we were attacked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, again proving America’s dominance and willingness to help others. Today, Japan is a strong ally of America, and they have risen to become a first world nation. The spirit of America has been on display throughout our history. In the last 70 years, the media would have you believe that this is a hateful nation – one built on the backs of the less fortunate and filled with evil people who are not worthy of the riches they have. To them, I will say, “If you do not love this land then get out! Nobody is holding you hostage!!” Unlike most places around the world, you are free to leave, so don’t let the door hit you on the way out. But there is a price for entering our country. Immigration is a privilege, a process by which not everyone is allowed to come in, and there are rules and procedures that must be followed. If you don’t enter legally and sneak by the border or overstay a visa, then you are subject to legal action and deportation. However, if you follow the rules, this is a welcoming place – a place where you can become as “American” as anyone born here. My people can be traced back to the Mayflower, but that doesn’t make me more American than an immigrant who just passed the requirements for citizenship. To them, I say, “Welcome home!” Being American isn’t about how you look or the way you speak, it’s about the way you think. For 250 years we have embraced a way of life that believes our rights are granted by the creator, not governments or men who sit in seats of power. We were founded as and continue to be a Christian nation. The Founding Fathers chose to make laws based on the proven doctrine of their time. Regardless of where you come from or the language you spoke there, English is our chosen language, and learning it is a basic requirement for citizenship. Many of our readers are military veterans, because the habits learned while serving make them a great fit as truckers. Many have traveled across this nation and around the world fighting for a better way of life, both in peacetime and times of war. It is that drive to be independent, the need to pilot our own ship or to live by our own rules, that set so many of them apart from the majority of society. We call them truckers – the men and women who move America. They are the lifeblood of this nation, the unsung heroes, who load up and move out, unseen by the multitudes. In true reality, truckers could be considered the misfits in our population. But give us an open road, a heavy load,
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