In 480 BCE a small group of warriors stood against millions. They knew they faced almost certain death. They knew that they probably would not receive reinforcements. And yet they held their ground, they refused to retreat and their actions did nothing less than save Western civilization. This is the story of 300 Spartans who held off the two million man army of Xerxes of Persia. Xerxes stood on the brink of defeating and enslaving all of Greece and he was held off by the determination and commitment of 300 well trained men.

The story of the Spartans stand in Thermoplyae is one of the most inspiring in all of military history. It has been immortalized in fiction, graphic novels and now the wildly successful movie 300. It is the story of a king who saw the threat posed by Xerxes and his fanaticism. King Leonidas knew the destruction and devastation that would befall Greece if Xerxes was not stopped. The Greek politicians were afraid and reluctant to confront the Persian threat. They stalled and debated and bickered while Xerxes built his army and moved closer to Greece. Leonidas took action. He chose a small squad of Spartan soliders and marched off to fight the largest army the world has ever known. He chose a narrow mountain pass to make his stand. Every Spartan save the one left to tell the story died on the battlefield. But their sacrifice and their incredible bravery rallied the rest of Greece and a year later the Greek army defeated Xerxes. Democracy was saved in its infancy by the selfless actions of a few.

This story is an endless source of inspiration. It teaches us about courage, esprit de corps and sacrifice. Today as war rages on in Iraq it teaches us about the spirit of those who serve this country. While our politicians and public debate the war, threaten to cut funding and use it as a political platform, our soldiers fight. While people back home debate and criticize and second guess the war, our Marines engage the enemy. While the media dwells on casualties and tragedies, our sailors, airmen and national guardsmen are holding the line. Leonidas and the Spartans who fought beside him saw the threat facing their nation. They looked out across the mountains and saw the army waiting to destroy their homes, murder their families and enslave their children. Our troops today have looked the enemy in the eye. They have seen the brutality and the fanaticism the terrorists have in mind for our country. Our troops are making a stand against an enemy that wants to destroy our culture. They are an inspiration as well. And in the years to come, perhaps their sacrifices will get the honor they deserve and serve to unite freemen and women against those who would enslave us.