674 State Papers and Addresses

Most of us haven't ever truly realized the value of what we possess, simply
because we didn't know what it would be like to be without our freedom. Today,
as we look about us in the world, we do appreciate to the fullest what it would
be like to lie beneath a despot's heel. We read of mass executions on the
slightest pretext in all parts of Europe. We see in our magazines the tragic
picture of Russian parents who have just found their son's body among the
group of guerrilla soldiers executed by a firing squad. They were executed,
mind you, because they dared to defend their homeland against invaders.

Today as never before, America is aroused to defend every inch of its home-
land against the invader, and to carry that fight to the land of the invader him-
self, in order to choke off the hostile action before it reaches our shores. No
sacrifice that we can make here at home, no dangers or privation that our
fighting forces can endure abroad, could be too great a price to pay for the
defense of our American heritage. With American spirit united as it is, there
can be no question as to ultimate Victory for the United Nation forces.

It will bear repetition, however, to say that a more personalized interest
by everyone of us in this war effort will bring much more quickly the result,
that must be achieved, no matter how long it takes and no matter how great the
cost. That result is complete Victory over the forces of Axis slavery. Only by
complete Victory can freedom be preserved for us, and restored to the conquered
peoples of the world. Only by complete Victory can we be sure that your
children will continue to enjoy the priceless advantages which have been avail-
able to your children and to the people of our generation. That these freedoms
be preserved is a sacred responsibility laid upon us. Only by the unselfish
cooperation of every one of us, can that responsibility be fulfilled, and freedom
again made a living influence throughout the world.