The most stirring call to arms in the English language was written in 1599, in Shakespeare’s Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3, when the king, on the eve of battle, rallied his “band of brothers.” (Link to Audio)

The character of man has not changed in the last 400 years, but the weapons of war have. The conflict we now face is one that is much different from any that we have fought before. Skills and talents are needed other than the traditional ones exhibited by soldiers on the battlefields. In this war, civilians on the home front or abroad can be warriors for our land. We watch with our eyes and write with our pens. We can disseminate local news and we can be creative with the new technologies that are now available. This World War III is a battle where the main weaponry is information and technology. Read and think about what can be done as a way of contributing to the war effort, instead of relying only on the military to do the job.

All can all be soldiers, in or out of uniform. Those who heed not the call to arms today will rue the victory as they will not be able to tell their children and grandchildren that they fought for the side of right and saved civilization from a dreadful darkness. When they are old men and women, today’s soldiers will say with pride that they fought and won a great war.

From this day to the ending of the world
But we in it shall be rememberèd,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Shakespeare’s Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3