"human RIGHTS" exist ONLY in nations that value and Defend humanity
Awareness of OTHER LIVES can influence a new outlook on one's own life
Many Americans assume the entire world is like the United States; That liberty, equality, social justice are "universal rights" or "entitlements"
Unfortunately, that is NOT reality.
Though no nation is perfect, the ideals of equality and liberty as recognized and protected "Rights" is only reality in countries that value humanity
Our Mission is to convey the "Cost" of defending liberty and democracy for the sake of humanity
Honor those who gave the precious miracle of their lives to ensure freedom for current & future generations by documenting their legacies
Inspire an appreciation for the culture and country these Heroes of Liberty lived and died for
Copyright 2026
Upon seeing Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photo of the flag raising on Iwo Jima cross the AP wire, an immigrant who enlisted in the US Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor would cancel his weekend leave and work three days and nights in his office at Patuxent River Air Station creating a moving tribute to the spirit, determination, and sacrifice of every man and woman who ever wore the uniform of the United States military. Using only a mix of common floor and sealing wax—the only materials available at Patuxent River Air Station that Friday in 1943—he crafted a legendary model symbolizing our nation’s unwavering dedication to defending freedom. It became a national memorial to the US Marine Corps, sparked a bond drive raising $7 billion for the war effort, and served as the centerpiece of a profound conversation I had at age sixteen that forever changed how I saw life.
THE DAY I UNDERSTOOD "DISCOVERED" AMERICA I candidly recount the following for a reason. As a typical American teenager growing up in the 80's and early 90's my adolescent world revolved around music, chilling with friends and hoping to lose my virginity. (I don't say "Trying" because there was no The last one was NOT going to be easy for an awkward, unfortunate-looking kid sporting glasses, braces/headgear, large nose, hand-me down clothes etc). Why confess this? Because that naturally naive, unaware teenage understanding and perception of 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' mentality changed in a startling revelation - one that profoundly changed my understanding of the world. (Of course I still wanna get laid...). As co-editor of the school newspaper I went to interview a transfer student from Czechoslovakia for a story. That would be an easy assignment grade. At 16 I thought I knew EVERYTHING. That day I realized I didn't know a DAMN THING. Except the kid in front of me wasn't a kid but someone or something very different from me; he seemed like an old man; extremely serious, jaded, skeptical, analytical, matter of fact, old, and devoid of youthful exuberance. He had a grave view of the world and humanity.
Someone who as a child and young teenager lived in a place where daily atrocities of beatings, disappearances, and murder comprised existence in a country where a place called "The United States of America" was a fabled utopian fantasy. the "transfer student" was a refugee who risked his life fleeing Communist oppression. HE had had left teenage friends behind who would die - some at their own hands as a result of the reality of their existence. They would do anything; drink anything to escape... As he talked, my naive, American-privileged mind strained to comprehend the reality of the world outside of the United States he was describing. Just as I struggled to understand his words, Karel struggled to find words to help me understand. "The dogs in this country - even the ones euthanized have had better lives than humans in my country. At times his frustration was obvious as I sat silently looking at him TRYING to COMPREHEND. THough we were both teenagers it was as if he was an old man in a teenage body attempting to explain something horrific to a simple, naive child who was incapable of comprehending. There were times, instances when he would get frustrated, exasperated at my inability to comprehend. However, I DID understand when he explained as simply as he could; ..."Fairness"... "Equality"... "Justice"... are AMERICAN CONCEPTS. AMERICAN things. They DO NOT EXIST where I come from... shaking his head side to side he emphasized they do not exist in Czechoslovakia. relaying several examples that I understood. It was of the few times in my life I could truly not speak. Then he managed to articulate words I will never forget; "We... do NOT have... an IWO JIMA memorial. We have NO ONE who will stand up for us... We have No one to DEFEND US from the ". We looked at eachother for several moments without words. I said "You know about the Iwo Jima Memorial? His response; "Yes... Everyone knows. Everyone knows American's will FIGHT for justice..." Finally I understood. I understood... and I have never been the same.
Our logo is tribute to the original Iwo Jima monument model sculpted aboard Patuxent River Air Station in St. Mary's County, Maryland by Felix de Weldon - an immigrant who joined the US Navy following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon seeing the iconic Joel Rosenthal photo cross the AP wire, USN PTR2 de Weldon requested permission to pause painting The Battle of the Coral Sea to search for possible material he could use to sculpt capture, and cancel his weekend leave in order to / focus on requested Embodying the courage, resolve, and sacrifice of EVERY AMERICAN who gave their life defending freedom and democracy. The 3' Pax sculpture shown here in the background photo would inspire a $7 Billion War bond drive and the greatest war monument to freedom in the world. It would also be a life-changing epiphany for a 16-year-old high school student in "discovering, understanding, appreciating the role of the United States of America to the people of the World".
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WHY It Matters
Truly inspiring work!
Alex P.
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“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral feeling which thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice fight for ascendancy of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle one against the other.- John Stuart Mill
WHY It Matters
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral feeling which thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice fight for ascendancy of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle one against the other.
- John Stuart Mill
Truly inspiring work!
Alex P.