I titled this article “When Did They Stop Making Men?” because it’s a phrase often heard on construction sites. No offense to women, as many are equally skilled in the construction field, but it remains predominantly male. This phrase is used when a co-worker complains about a task being too hard. It’s our way of teasing each other in a brotherly, camaraderie-filled manner.
My name is Damon Galdo. I’m a union carpenter and construction manager. I’m a husband and a father of two, blessed with a beautiful family. I am passionate about what I do for a living, which I consider rare and fortunate. After having my two children, I felt an insatiable urge to do more to secure a bright future for them. As I watched my state and country deteriorate from within, I knew I had to act. I decided to run for Congress. But this article is more about the why.
On June 6, 2024, I watched President Joe Biden’s speech commemorating the brave soldiers from June 6, 1944, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. While his speech was coherent (which is rare), I decided to compare it to one of my favorite presidential speeches of all time, given in 1984 on the 40th anniversary of D-Day by President Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan immortalized the selfless and heroic actions of the boys of Pointe du Hoc when he declared, “Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the ranger daggers that were thrusted to the top of these cliffs, and before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.” He later asked, “Where do we find such men? The answer came almost as quickly as I asked the question: where we always found them in this country. On the farms, in the shops, the stores, and the offices. They are the product of the freest society the world has ever known.”
Fast forward 40 years to President Biden’s speech: “We cannot allow what happened here to be lost in the silence of the years to come. Let’s remember, the fact that they were heroes that day does not absolve us from what we have to do today. Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it.” While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that statement, he soon shifts to pandering for votes, making it more about himself than the brave men who stormed the beach that day. This is a recurring theme for Biden. Whether it’s an honorable remembrance or a tragic event, he finds a way to bring it back to himself. He continues, “In 10, 20, 30, 50, 80 years from now it’ll be said, when the moment came, we met the moment. We stood strong. Our alliances were made stronger. We saved democracy in our time as well.”
Reagan’s speech was a beacon of honor, integrity, and unity. Biden’s speech, in stark contrast, was politically charged, an attempt to push his DEI policies and instill fear in voters about electing his opponent. Biden’s speech felt like a slap in the face to those brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we cherish today.
Reagan asked, “Where did we find such men?” These men were raised in two-parent homes, taught unwavering values, attended church, and were integral parts of their community. They were proud to be Americans and understood the sacred duty of protecting their country.
Since Reagan’s iconic speech, the United States has spent four decades dismantling the institutions that made us the greatest nation on earth. We were a beacon of hope across the planet. Today, however, we focus on individualism and feelings, as these institutions have been deemed toxic by the media, social media, and the far left, propping up the few and indoctrinating our children.
In 1940, only 4% of American households were single-parent homes. Today, it’s 41%. In 1940, 73% of Americans went to church. Today, only 47%. This is the result of the far left promoting individualism and systematically tearing down the institutions that created the greatest generation Reagan spoke of. You can’t dismantle these foundations without eroding the very fabric of society. You can’t expect to have heroes when you teach a generation to be non-heroic. Biden claims this generation will be remembered 80 years from now as if we accomplished a similar feat to the “Boys of Pointe du Hoc.” I believe we will be remembered, but as the generation that squandered the gifts we were given—gifts we did not earn but were passed down to us.
