A Remarkable Story On A Historic Day!

Happy 80th Birthday To The Republic Of Italy!

 

Hey Mikie And Andy, Take A Look At THIS!

This is how you act on Memorial Day. 

This is how you remember the fallen. 

This is what real pride in country looks like.

NOT your despicable grandstanding!

Imagine this 19 year old kid hitting the beach and wading through the hell on Earth that was Iwo Jima, not knowing if he'd live another second. But he's made it to 2026 and his nation's 250th. And still a badass. https://t.co/lR8LfWRBTx

— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton) May 26, 2026

The Remarkable Story Of Jewish Resurrection

Excerpted from "The Iron Lady of The American Jewish Right" an extraordinary interview with Ruth Wisse in this wekend's Wall Street Journal:

Much of her extended family was murdered by the Germans, but “the investment in Holocaust education has been a huge mistake,” she says.

“We should remember it every day of our lives, and we do. We still mourn the Temples of Jerusalem.”

She sees the public Holocaust education effort, however, as a Jewish gesture to Christians: “Show them the crucifixion of the Jews, as if it could be redemptive for the rest of us.”

Even accepting the Christian framing, Ms. Wisse says, “we left out the resurrection. Not in three days, but in three years.”

From the end of the Holocaust in 1945 to Israel’s 1948 founding, “the Jewish nation resurrected itself— and that is a miracle.

“It’s not that the waters parted,” she says. “The Jews had to part them.” The Arabs had succeeded in choking off the Jewish escape from Europe to Palestine when it counted most, and then rejected the U.N. partition plan for a Jewish and an Arab state. After nearly 2,000 years of exile, the Jews had to fight off the invasion of five Arab armies to win independence.

“The resurrection of the Jews is the greatest story ever told,” Ms.

Wisse says, “and while our enemies were hard at work uglifying it, we told the story of the Holocaust.”

A REMARKABLE Memorial Day Weekend Story!

God bless our veterans. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ACDaWlKrtU

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 24, 2026

tory

Comparing American Conflicts Through History

 

Did Jesus Listen To THIS Prayer? Huh?

This past Palm Sunday, Pope Leo stated that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” adding that God rejects the prayers of leaders . . . who have "hands full of blood."

The Pope went further in a sweeping condemnation with these words: "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs."

Now listen to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio address and his fervent prayer to "Almighty God" on D day, June 6, 1944. Did God not "listen" to FDR's prayer? Did God not ignore the pleas of America and the allied nations? 

Again, here is the full text of the prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. 

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. 

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. 

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. 

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. 

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. 

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. 

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. 

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. 

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. 

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. 

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen."

And Now, This -- From Our Vice President, J.D.Vance

🚨 JUST NOW — JD VANCE on POPE LEO: "He said that God is never on the side of those who wield the sword...how can you say that? [Was] God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis?"

"Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps and… pic.twitter.com/w9YZMFwRKe

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 14, 2026

Oh, This Is Something To Contemplate . . .

Consider this gem from Michael Oren on facebook:

If the New York Times reported the war in 1944 as it’s reporting the war today.

President Roosevelt continues to pursue a war for which he failed to prepare the United States. Though there have been some significant military achievements, especially in North Africa, U.S. forces remained bogged down in the Pacific and severely bloodied in strategically meaningless places like Tarawa and Guadalcanal. The Italian campaign has totally stalled, with an appalling loss of American life that will soon be surpassed by the utterly reckless and inevitably doomed invasion of France. Meanwhile, the innocent people of Japan and Germany continue to suffer. The damage to both their countries and the impact on the world economy is incalculable. The chances of a negotiated settlement appear more than ever remote.And all of this because the impressionable Roosevelt was duped into going to war by that master manipulator, Churchill.

104-Year-Old Vet Plays N'tl Anthem On Sax!

104-year-old World War II veteran Dominick Critelli played the national anthem on the saxophone at the Rangers-Islanders game

Pretty special stuff 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/duou98CQ72

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 27, 2025

Absolutely amazing! 104-year-old World War II veteran Dominick Critelli played the national anthem on the saxophone at the Rangers-Islanders game!

The REAL Story Behind Veterans Day . . .

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially  when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. 

However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh mont, exactly one hundred years ago today. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts 

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

H/T: Bureau of Veterans Affairs

Click here to see lots more from the Dan Cirucci Blog.

Italian American Heritage Month: WWII Warriors

During World War II, Italian-Americans demonstrated unparalleled patriotism by enlisting in the U.S. military. Estimates suggest that between 750,000 and 1.5 million individuals of Italian descent served, comprising approximately 10% of the total U.S. armed forces. 

This remarkable participation rate made Italian-Americans the largest ethnic group to serve in the military during the war. Their commitment was not just a testament to their loyalty to the United States but also a reflection of their deep-seated values of family, community, and resilience.

Among these brave individuals, 14 Italian-Americans received the Medal of Honor for their extraordinary acts of valor. Notable figures include Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, who earned both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross for his heroism in the Pacific, and Col. Henry Mucci, who led the daring rescue of 511 prisoners from the Bataan Death March. 

Their stories are a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by Italian-Americans in defense of freedom and democracy. We honor their legacy and the enduring spirit of service that continues to inspire future generations.

Italian American Heritage Month: Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimò

Born in Milan in 1926, Mariuccia Soncini, grew up during wartime Italy, experiencing hardship and learning early on lessons of discipline, equality, and public service. Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+2Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+2

She married Baron Guido Zerilli-Marimò in 1949, becoming deeply involved in the post-war Italian industrial and political milieu. Her husband, a pharmaceutical industrialist whose business (Lepetit) had suffered during the war, built it back up into a multinational concern. Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+2Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+2

After Guido’s death in 1981, Mariuccia devoted herself increasingly to philanthropy and cultural promotion. Her most prominent legacy is the founding of Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at New York University in 1990: she purchased and restored a historic 19th-century brownstone in Greenwich Village (former Winfield Scott House) and donated it to NYU to house a dedicated Department of Italian Studies and serve as a vibrant cultural center. Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3

Casa Italiana offers courses, free public events (in literature, visual arts, cinema, music, theater, etc.), translations of contemporary Italian works, and serves as a bridge between Italy and the U.S. in cultural and academic exchange. Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+3 She also established the Zerilli-Marimò Prize for Italian Fiction in 1998 to promote contemporary Italian literature in English‐speaking countries. Casa Italiana Zerilli—Marimò at NYU+2Wikipedia+2

Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimò passed away on October 17, 2015, at the age of 89. At her death she was still deeply involved as founder and Chair of the Advisory Board of Casa Italiana.

Flashback On This 81st Anniversary Of D Day!

.@POTUS in Normandy on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, 2019:

"These men ran through the fires of hell moved by a force no weapon could destroy: the fierce patriotism of a free, proud, and sovereign people. They battled not for control and domination, but for liberty, democracy,… pic.twitter.com/LnSpWlr4KZ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 6, 2025

Trump And Churchill? You Better Believe It!

It's been said that a setback is nothing more than a setup for a comeback. Sadly, most people who suffer setbacks don't seem to see it this way. Indeed, it takes a person of exceptional resilience to realize that after you've stumbled, reaching the top can actually become a more focused goal and a sweeter achievement when you finally get there. 

Winston Churchill and Donald Trump, though separated by era, geography, and upbringing both seemed to understand this as part of their very fiber. Giving up just wasn't in their DNA.

These two indefatigable political figures reshaped their nations through sheer force of personality, unrelenting patriotism, and a willingness to defy conventional politics. With Donald Trump’s re-election as President last year, the comparisons between his career and that of Winston Churchill’s become even more compelling. 

Both men experienced political exiles followed by dramatic returns to power, and both led their nations during defining moments in history. A deeper look at their lives, words, and actions reveals striking and favorable similarities that resonate strongly with supporters of bold, unapologetic leadership.

Dramatic comebacks

Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940 after years in the political "wilderness," warning against the rise of Nazi Germany while much of the British Parliament clung to appeasement. His return was a vindication of foresight and resolve. After leading Britain through World War II, Churchill lost reelection in 1945 but returned to power in 1951. Churchill knew not only defeat but isolation and ostracism as well.

Likewise, Trump’s political trajectory mirrors the cycle of disruption and resurgence. After his contentious 2020 loss, many assumed his political influence would wane. Instead, Trump steadfastly refused to cede ground and managed to remain the dominant figure in the Republican Party. Against considerable media and institutional resistance, he won nomination and re-election in 2024. Like Churchill, Trump capitalized on growing public frustration—this time over inflation, immigration crises, and international instability—to mount a return based on strong leadership, an unwillingness to surrender to entrenched forces and a desire for national renewal. 

Words that galvanize the public

Words have played a big role in the public journey of both these compelling leaders.

Churchill's speeches during World War II are legendary for their moral clarity and emotional power. His 1940 declaration, “We shall fight on the beaches... we shall never surrender,” was a verbal bulwark against despair. Churchill understood the power of words to inspire and unify a country under siege.

Trump’s communication style carries a similar populist electricity. His 2024 campaign revived the “Make America Great Again” message, refocused under slogans like “Finish the Job” and “America Reborn.” In his 2024 inaugural address, Trump declared:

“This is a new beginning for our great country. We are taking back our future, our economy, our borders, and our voice.”

Like Churchill, Trump uses clear, emotionally resonant language that transcends policy details and connects with millions who feel ignored by traditional elites. When the allies freed Europe on VE Day in 2025, Churchill told the British people: "This is your victory, not mine." Likewise, when he became only the second person in history to regain the presidency after being turned out of office, Trump declared: "This is a magnificent victory for the American people." 

Fierce nationalism and defense of sovereignty

Churchill’s defense of British independence from both Nazi domination and postwar continental entanglement is well documented. He resisted calls to compromise national interest for the sake of temporary peace or political convenience. Even after the war, he warned of the dangers of collectivism and the importance of preserving British institutions. Indeed, this was part of his dramatic comeback in 1951.

Trump, in a similar vein, places American sovereignty at the center of his agenda. His first term was marked by withdrawal from multilateral agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and a focus on border security, trade renegotiation (USMCA), and military strength. In his second term, Trump has doubled down on these priorities, pushing forward with renewed border enforcement, energy independence initiatives, and tariff protections. Both men espoused a belief that a strong nation must prioritize its own citizens over global approval.

Resilience in the face of adversity

Churchill’s long political life was riddled with controversy and setbacks—from the failed Gallipoli campaign in World War I to his marginalization in the 1930s. Yet his perseverance and refusal to conform allowed him to seize the moment when his country needed a wartime leader.

Trump, likewise, faced two impeachments, relentless legal investigations, and widespread media hostility. Despite this, he returned to the presidency in 2024 with a reinvigorated base and a firm grip on the direction of American conservatism. Both men serve as examples of resilience—not merely surviving political storms, but emerging stronger and more relevant afterward. Both also dramatically reshaped the tone, tenor and philosophy of their respective political parties.

Disrupting political orthodoxy

Churchill was often regarded as a maverick in British politics. He switched parties twice, opposed Indian independence (to great controversy), and constantly challenged political consensus. Yet his instincts on national defense and the dangers of tyranny proved prescient.

Trump has likewise disrupted the modern American political order. From rejecting bipartisan norms on trade and foreign policy to rebuilding the Republican Party into a populist, nationalist coalition, he has redefined the landscape. His 2024 return only cements his place as a transformative figure—polarizing at times but undeniably impactful.

The men and the moment

Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024 provides a fresh lens through which to view his leadership in comparison with Winston Churchill’s. Both men possess a rare combination of defiance, rhetorical power, and conviction in the primacy of national interest. Their careers—marked by political defeat, rebirth, and enduring influence—reflect the archetype of the determined leader who refuses to be silenced or sidelined.

In times of crisis, both Churchill and Trump offered a vision grounded not in appeasement or compromise, but in strength, clarity, and loyalty to country above all. For those who value fearless leadership in the face of elite opposition and global uncertainty, Churchill and Trump stand as parallel figures whose legacies continue to shape the future of their nations.

Churchill And Trump? Surprising? Maybe Not!

I'm reading several books during a leisurely transatlantic cruise. One of them is Dinner With Churchill which examines Sir Winston's years conducting tabletop diplomacy over numerous meals (and through two world wars and beyond) on nearly every continent.

Churchill travelled extensively precisely because he was an ardent believer in face-to-face, real, live human relationships. That's the way he wanted to get to know other world leaders -- up close and personal. In this way, listening and responding,  he sought to understand both friend and foe alike. And Churchill went to great lengths to plan every detail of the meals he shared during these many discussions -- meals and discussions that went well into the night.

Sir Winston was an extremely confident person and he placed unlimited trust and confidence in his own powers to charm, cajole and persuade others. If all this sounds familiar, it's because Donald Trump (who also requires little sleep and works well into the night) appears to be cut from the same mold. Extravagance characterizes both leaders and, like Churchill, Trump does not close the door to any eventuality if he's given the chance to meet with someone face-to-face and often over a fine meal. Churchill used 10 Downing or Chartwell or The Savoy or even far flung locals for these meetings just as President Trump uses the White House or Camp David or Mar-a-Lago or Trump Tower or any one of a number of Trump holdings throughout the world.

You couldn't tell Churchill that he could not cozy up to Stalin and bend the Soviet leader his way just as you cannot convince Trump that he doesn't have a shot of gaining concessions from Putin. Yes, Russia and England were thrown together by necessity during WW II. They were nominally allies and it was a different time, to be sure. But even after the war and even after much of eastern Europe was ceded to the Soviet block and even into the advent of the Cold War, Churchill was still convinced he could charm Russia via Stalin's successor, Khrushchev and begin to win new concessions. To that end, Churchill met with President Eisenhower in Bermuda in 1953. Sir Winston wanted peace; he wanted to at least try to avert a nuclear arms race; he wanted to open up a crack of sunlight in the Iron Curtain that he said had descended across Europe. Like Trump, he set aspirations high and remained ever hopeful.

And, in Dinner With Churchill you will also discover this: when Churchill was Prime Minister, even during the war, underlings who were part of Britain's administrative state tried to dissuade Churchill or tone down his rhetoric or the size and scope of his often audacious plans. In fact, Churchill's Principal Private Secretary at one point privately referred to his boss as "a lunatic: he gets in such a state of excitement that the wildest schemes seem reasonable." The Private Secretary was hopeful that "the Cabinet and finally The King" would "restrain" Churchill. Here again, dramatic similarities to the era of Trump.

It's amazing what history can teach you -- if you pay attention and if you're perceptive.

Oh, My! How Very Far We've Fallen . . . .

 

A Notorious Plagiarist Strikes Again: Shameful!

Joe Biden essentially plagiarized Ronald Reagan’s famous 1984 speech at Pointe du Hoc today in Normandy. Watch these clips side by side. Wow: pic.twitter.com/jeGgTS2Nnm

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 7, 2024

40 Years Later: President Reagan's D-Day Address

Remember the words of President Ronald Reagan in 1984 when he came to Pointe du Hoc and stood where many stand today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

Reagan was there to commemorate the 40th anniversary on June 6. 1984. It's hard to believe that 80 years have passed since D-Day and nearly 40 years have passed since these words were uttered:

We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, two hundred and twenty-five Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs.

Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here, and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.

The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers at the edge of the cliffs, shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting, only ninety could still bear arms.

And behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. And these are the heroes who helped end a war. 

Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your "lives fought for life and left the vivid air signed with your honor."

Today Above All: NEVER FORGET! NEVER AGAIN!