Breaking the Chains of Adversity: WWII Veteran Inspires Hope at 2023 Patriot Awards
The echoes of World War II still resonate through the stories of bravery and sacrifice that shaped the course of history. Among the dwindling number of living witnesses to that era, Andy Negra, a distinguished veteran, was recently bestowed with the prestigious “Salute to Service” Award at the 2023 Patriot Awards, a momentous event hosted by FOX Nation.
A Living Legacy of Valor
As the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, World War II reached a pivotal moment. The courage exhibited by those who fought became the cornerstone of Germany’s defeat and the foundation of victory for the free world. Negra, a mere teenager at the time, found himself thrust into the heart of this historic battle, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Representing Heroes
Receiving the award, Negra, now 99 years old, became the voice of not only World War II veterans but also of those who served in subsequent conflicts. With humility and gratitude, he expressed, “I represent all of the World War II veterans that are still alive, and for the other veterans out of the other wars, let me assure you, I represent you, too. That’s the Iraq and all the rest of them.”
A Trophy Crafted with Care
Award-winning actor Dennis Quaid and FOX News’ Johnny “Joey” Jones had the honor of presenting Negra with a custom trophy, skillfully crafted by third-generation carpenter Tony Siravo. This trophy stands as a tangible acknowledgment of Negra’s enduring service and the sacrifices made by countless others.
From D-Day to the Present
Negra, who participated in the D-Day invasion at less than 20 years old, shared insights into his post-war life. Reflecting on the world’s current state, he acknowledged the challenges but offered a message of hope: “I never thought that we fought so hard during World War II to find the country in a condition that it is today. But let me assure you — every time this country ever got into a problem, they solved it, so regardless of what’s going on now, we will break this badness and get back to the good.”
A Remarkable Journey
Beyond the battlefield, Negra’s life unfolded with resilience and love. He proudly declared, “After the war, I got two things that I’m very proud to say. I survived. And the second thing is, I met my wife, who I was married to for 71 years. She passed away six and a half years ago at the age of 90.”
A Living Testament to Resilience
In commemorating Negra’s journey, we not only pay homage to a war hero but also draw inspiration from a living testament to resilience, love, and the unwavering spirit of those who served. As we navigate the complexities of our world, Negra’s words echo a timeless truth — that no matter the challenges, the indomitable spirit of a nation can overcome and prevail.
Thanks to the progressive tax system in the 1950’s, companies paid more people more money to work and those companies provided healthcare and retirement benefits. They didn’t even need VA unless it was some kind of emergency. But now, companies pay a few people a lot of money and a lot of people less money. Also no real heathcare and retirement that you don’t pay for yourself. So now more people need VA and they aren’t adjusting to that reality at all. So people’s politics and favoring greed and every man for himself values leads to you get stuck holding your ass after someone derelict at VA pounds it. Our so called leaders represent the rich only and that’s what has healthcare in the USA unaffordable for the average person. If they don’t deal with that from a systemic economic angle, you’re always gonna be gaslit and denied care at VA. It’s just a smaller piece of a bigger disorganized and unregulated pie. And the VA has the advantage of having unlimited demand and legal immunity for doing just about whatever they want to. Every VA employee is their own authoritarian power. There’s no consequences for mistreatment or denial of care, and they don’t have to pay for an attorney when they do things that they wouldn’t get away with if they hadn’t obtained qualified immunity just because they got hired under the title “government.” And not too many care about failure at VA because half the country doesn’t want to pay taxes for it and wants to be able to say that socialized medicine failed in the USA.
I think the lord there is such thing as the patriot awards. That are people in America
get to honor men and women that sacrifice themselves. Thank you the men and women of the military and first responder.