Defenders of Democracy Contributions from representative men and women of letters and other arts from our allies and our own country, edited by the Gift book committee of the Militia of Mercy

A stirring portrait of a nation at a crossroads, this work gathers the heartfelt reflections of military leaders, politicians, and everyday citizens as the United States confronts a world torn by conflict. Through speeches, letters, and essays, listeners hear the earnest pleas of admirals and generals urging sacrifice, the patriotic fervor of women rallying on the home front, and the moral resolve that underpins America’s entry into the war. The prose captures the urgency of 1917, when the idea of defending liberty became a rallying cry for soldiers, nurses, and families alike.

Beyond the battlefield, the narrative explores how democratic ideals were framed as a universal bond, contrasting the turmoil abroad with the resolve at home. Listeners are invited into the era’s debates about duty, sacrifice, and the promise of a just peace, gaining insight into the early days of a global struggle that reshaped the world’s political landscape.