2020 American Spirit Shines Through, Paves Way for 2021

America and Americans are resilient.

It’s in our DNA.

Throughout our history, we’ve seen a young nation hanging on by a thread during our Republic’s founding, a nation torn apart by a Civil War, the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, and 9/11.

But we’ve always fought and fought hard.

With God’s blessings, have found a way to come back.

This year with the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen lockdowns, businesses going under and others struggling to survive; schools closed, savings depleted, people going hungry, and an increase in depression and suicide.

Yes, people are hurting. And now the Holidays are upon us.

Selfless organizations like the Salvation Army are on the front lines just like they always are. But something else is happening. Individual citizens are taking it upon themselves to do something to help their fellow Americans and doing what it takes to help get our nation and our people up off the mat once again.

They are not waiting on government.

What they are doing is taking charge, which translates to inspiring others, and doing it themselves. We’re seeing this from Americans from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old.

Lets' just take a look:

• Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports — Started "The Barstool Fund" to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19 to stay in business.

• 7 year old Rasul Bey of Philadelphia — Rasul is autistic and has just gotten over COVID-19 himself. Nevertheless, he used some of his own savings and raised money this month to buy 300 Christmas presents for low income kids at his school.

• Country Music star Dolly Parton — Has given $1 million to support COVID-19 medical research.

• 9 year old Alaina Stifel of Des Moines, Iowa — She started her own at home jewelry business during the Pandemic; she gives $1.00 from from every sale to charity.

• Guy Fieri of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" — Has raised over $21.5M for unemployed restaurant workers and fought to keep our "Mom & Pop" shops open. Like, Dave Portnoy, he knows that small business is the economic engine of America and the backbone of our free-enterprise system.

• Michael Reagan, son of President Reagan — He has issued the "Reagan Challenge" to adopt an unemployed restaurant worker this Christmas, pay their rent and bills for the month and get them a Christmas tree.

And there are countless similar stories of Americans all across our country "walking the walk," helping others and inspiring during the pandemic.

This is the American spirit.

This is resilience.

And it is why this Christmas and Holiday Season I’m confident that if we put our trust in God and remember who we are, America will once again get up off the mat, coming back stronger than ever.

Van Hipp is Chairman of American Defense International, Inc. He is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army and author of “The New Terrorism: How to Fight It and Defeat It.” He is the 2018 recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II September 11 Garden Leadership Award for National Security. Read Van Hipp's Reports — More Here.