PragerU has released a 5-minute video ahead for Memorial Day called “The Fallen Soldier” to encourage all Americans to remember and to honor the servicemen and women who have fought and died for their freedom.
The video, which has nearly a million views already, is written and narrated by John “Jocko” Willink (Ret.), a highly decorated former Navy SEAL officer who served as the commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the Battle of Ramadi during the Iraq War in 2006.
With engaging animation, “The Fallen Soldier” tells the stories of American soldiers throughout the centuries through the perspective of one soldier, from the Revolutionary War to today’s ongoing War on Terror around the world. The video highlights the ultimate sacrifice that millions of American soldiers have made and continue to make every day in service to their country and fellow Americans.
It was me that went out, night after night, to confront our nation’s enemies and confront evil face to face. It was me. Remember me. I was a warrior,” Willink says as he narrates. “But also remember: That I was not only a warrior. Remember also: that I was a son, a brother, a father. I was a daughter, a sister, a mother. I was a person — like you — a real person with hopes and dreams for the future.”
Along with the video, PragerU has included learning resources that families can use to further engage with the narrative presented in the video, such as a study guide with discussion questions, a list of important historical facts and a quiz to test comprehension.
“This Memorial Day, remember me: the fallen warrior. And remember me not for my sake—but for yours,” Willink says at the end of the video. “...Live a life that honors us, the fallen heroes. Remember us. And make every day Memorial Day.”
Willink is the co-founder and CEO of Echelon Front, the co-author of the New York Times #1 Best Seller, Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win (with Leif Babin) and the host of the popular Jocko Podcast.
PragerU, founded by Dennis Prager in 2011, is a not-for-profit organization that helps millions understand the values that shaped America and provides millions of Americans and people around the world with the intellectual ammunition they need to advocate for limited government, individual responsibility and economic freedom. Since its founding, PragerU videos have received over 5 billion lifetime views.