Our 250th birthday celebration all over this country has reinforced our belief that “yes” our democracy is alive and well and we must now begin the “fight” to protect our freedom. To save our democracy, we have two proven weapons at our disposal.

In the annals of American history, there are people who we pay homage to on certain occasions, and those we pay homage to on a daily basis without thinking because the occasions demand that we do.

In every corner of American soil (and American bases abroad), we fly the Stars and Stripes, and we sing the Star-Spangled Banner, perhaps not even realizing where or who they came from.

Here are two examples of what it means to be true patriotic Americans and how two men fought for what they believed in.

This is the story of John Paul Jones — his courage and determination to fight and save his new country.

Time: 1779-1780, The birth of the U.S. flag.

He was the captain of a U.S. Navy ship. His ship was the first to fly the new American Stars and Stripes Flag.

He was fighting the British and his ship the Bonhomme Richard was badly damaged by fire and flooding. Captain Richard Pearson of the British ship Serapis asked Jones, “Do you wish to surrender?”

Jones’ famous answer, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Jones and the American crew won the battle and the British sailors who survived surrendered to the Americans.

John Paul Jones was a true patriot — he loved his country and was quite willing to fight for it.

This is the story of Francis Scott Key.

Time: War of 1812-1814 and the birth of the U.S. national anthem.

The British attacked Forth McHenry. Francis Scott Key was not allowed to leave on his ship because the British thought he might betray their activities. The British did not win at Forth McHenry.

On the night of Sept. 13, 1814, Key, “feeling great emotion” for his country, wrote the words … on the back of an envelope … that later became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It was later set to music and in March 1931, it became the national anthem of the United States of America.

Here we have the birth of our flag and the birth of our national anthem.

Today, we need to examine the state of our democracy and not take things for granted.

From another historical point of view, when we look at nations that have survived autocrats and dictators, it is clear that democracy — in one form or another — has triumphed over kings and tyrants.

As history has shown, Germany survived Hitler. Italy survived Mussolini. Spain survived Franco. Portugal survived Salazar.

In our year — 2026 — the people of Hungary sacked Victor Orban and chose another form of government.

Our 250th birthday celebration all over this country has reinforced our belief that “yes” our democracy is alive and well and we must now begin the “fight” to protect our freedom.

To save our democracy, we have two proven weapons at our disposal.

First, we have patriotic power. We are the ones who are going to have to hit the streets and continue to sing the “no kings” song. We are the ones who must shout “this land is our land” and no hypocrites will tell us otherwise.

Second, and more important, is the ballot box. If we the people truly want change, if we are serious about wanting to continue to live in a democratic country, then we make every single vote count on Nov. 3.

Our present democratic country is not the end game — American democracy is a work in progress for the rest of our lives … so we have work to do.

All through the past 250 years, men and women have continued to work to make this country a better place and a shining example around the world of what freedom, equality and justice is all about.

We, the patriots, have to get off our seats, hit the streets as if our lives depend on it — because our grand children’s future depend on it, and the ballot box is our power to use or lose what we treasure most — our democracy, and the flag and the anthem.

Thanks, John Paul Jones. Thanks, Francis Scott Key.