Preserving Liberty: A Duty Left to Those Who Dare
Corey Stevens • September 5, 2025
Like our Founding Fathers, Republicans understand that freedom isn’t merely reserved for the here and now. It is continually reforged through noble sacrifice, undue adversity, and solid principles — knowing that the rewards may never be felt or seen in our own lifetimes. We share a profound love for country that is rooted in a sacred bond with all who gave their lives to honor a belief that certain truths are self-evident.
Have you ever wondered why the final stanza of the “Star-Spangled Banner” ends with a question? “O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?”
I believe it embodies the grandeur of the American experiment — that it is not and never was a guarantee, but a patriotic gamble. Fifty-six men signed the bottom of a bold declaration that put themselves, their families, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in periled danger. They knew that they were planting the seeds, not harvesting its fruit. They believed in something far greater than their own lived experience in America: the possibility that future generations might one day live in a nation ruled by liberty, not tyranny.
Can you imagine the pride — the raw elation — that would have surged through the hearts of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, or Madison if they could witness the proof of their vision in real time? A nation that, despite its imperfections, still honors the once unprecedented idea that government exists to serve The People, not the other way around . . . A Republic that hosts an entire continent, anchored in the radical creed that the individual, not the state, is the rightful owner of their destiny.
They didn’t have a roadmap. There was no precedent — just principles. They held closely the conviction that freedom was not something afforded by monarchs or parliaments, but endowed by our Creator — inalienable, non-negotiable, and worth fighting for.
And so, they fought.
They bled.
They wept.
They struggled.
They risked everything, not for what they could gain from a new nation, but for what they could contribute to one. They understood that they would not see the final product. But, they remained faithful that one day free Americans would carry the torch.
That legacy is not abstract for Republicans. It is personal. As the political descendants of those who understood that freedom must be defended, event at great cost, we must convey our awareness that the fate of the country rests in the hands of those who speak truth, stand their ground, and remain unwavering in the face of convenience and complacency.
Today, we still carry the burden and blessing of that founding promise. Our obligation is no less significant. The fight may no longer be waged on flat country fields with muskets or against foreign monarchs, but it is still real. We battle bloated government, a culture that ignores individual responsibility, and policies that weaken the liberties that built this nation into the greatest force for good that world has ever known.
We must remind ourselves that freedom and liberty are not trophies on a shelf — they are living commitments. They must be renewed by every generation who dares to see it through. Often tired, uncomfortable, and without celebration. That’s why Republicans continue to champion the values that work: limited government, strong families, secure borders, economic prosperity, and the unshakable belief in the dignity of each human life.
We are not interested in power. We are interested in purpose . . . in protecting the American Dream not just for us, but for the generations that follow. Our role as stewards of a sacred inheritance is not taken lightly — one forged in revolution, tested in civil war, and sharpened by every scar this nation has endured.
As George Washington said on July 2, 1776, “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.”
That army was not comprised of professional soldiers. It was comprised of every type of man; from farmers to tradesmen to lawyers to ministers. They were everyday Patriots who chose country over comfort.
And the mantle has now been passed on to us.
It has been passed to the teachers who instill patriotism instead of wokeness; to the parents who stand up to their school boards; to the small business owners who kept their doors open amid overregulation; to the men and women in uniform who defend the Constitution; and to every American who still believes that our best days don’t belong to history — they belong to the future.
Let us not forget that freedom can be forgotten and lost, though . . . but not if we do our part.
If we reject the ridiculous notion that America must apologize for its greatness, freedom shall continue to ring. If we remember that duty, not gratification, defines a free society, freedom shall continue to ring.
Republicans don’t shrink from that duty. We sprint toward it.
The reason for this is because Republicans know that what is at stake — not simply debates on policy within our country — is the very soul of a nation built on courage, self-governance, and providence.
It’s easy to forget, in an age of cynicism and click-bait politics, that our story is still being written. We are still, as President Abraham Lincoln put it, “…testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.”
The Republican mission is simple, but never easy: keep the flame of freedom alive.
That flame continues to burn by remembering who we are; by defending truth, even when unpopular; by raising our children to love their country, not hate it; by building, not burning; by choosing character over circumstances; and by prioritizing conviction over compromise.
That is how we keep faith with our Founding Fathers. That is how we live up to the ideals that sparked a revolution and gave birth the Shining City on a Hill that President Ronald Reagan fondly referred to. It is not about nostalgia — it is about obligation. The story of America isn’t over . . . and if we do our part, we can share in casting its best days, with pride that our victories may only be felt by our brothers and sisters in freedom long after we are gone.
Corey Stevens is a seasoned campaign operative and respected national strategist having worked on successful local, state, and federal races throughout the southwest and western United States. He serves as Director of Accounts at Connector, Inc. — a boutique government relations and political affairs firm in Washington, D.C.