Forty-five years ago, I came to the United States with $20 in my pocket and walking with a cane, still recovering after being shot in Lebanon by Hizbollah and Amal terrorists—more than ten bullets in my knees and legs. I survived because of a remarkable Lebanese Jewish surgeon, Dr. David Hanoush, who operated on me three times and gave me the gift of walking again. When I arrived in America, I had nothing. But I worked hard. I had three jobs, went to school, and built a life step by step. And the people who helped me—who treated me with dignity and kindness—were Christians and Jews. I thank them and pray for them every day. This country gave me safety, opportunity, and a future my parents and grandparents could have never imagined. I’ve been with the same company for 35 years, and I spent 15 years volunteering after completing Firefighter School and Police Reserve training. That was my way of saying thank you, America. Thank you for treating me as one of your own. Thank you for turning my American dream into an American reality. And let’s speak the truth. We came from countries where human life meant nothing.
Countries where children grew up with no hope, no safety, no electricity, no clean water, no medicine.
Places where people killed each other in the streets and no one would defend you or protect you. We left all of that behind to come here—to a land that respects life, freedom, and human dignity. America fed us, sheltered us, lifted us up, and gave us the chance to become more than survivors. That’s why we can never forget where we came from. And we cannot, under any circumstances, disrespect the very country that saved us. Some people still act like they’re visitors here. Some hold foreign loyalties above the nation that gave them everything. Some excuse violence done in the name of causes they claim to reject. Some wave foreign flags louder than the one that gives them the freedom to do so. To those people, I have one message:
If you want to recreate the chaos and hatred that destroyed the countries we fled—don’t bring it here.
Not to the nation that rescued us.
Not to the land that finally gave us dignity and peace. As for the rest of us—the ones who stand for the anthem with tears in our eyes, who thank God every day we are Americans, who see every citizen here as family—we’re not going anywhere. And we won’t stay silent while others make us look ungrateful for the blessings we’ve been given. So here it is, plain and from the bottom of my heart: Honor America. Respect America. Put this country first—because it’s the country that saved us. One last note, when I was naturalized and for 15 years before every meeting at the FD & PD: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” And it make me sick to see people in NY and Philadelphia burning our flag. - A proud American 🇺🇸