United States Army veteran and “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-anchor Pete Hegseth will host two new programs for “Proud American.” This will be the network’s eighth consecutive Memorial Day event.
Memorial Day really hits home for Hegseth.
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“Those of us that are really close to it… I mean, it’s on my wrist, it’s on my mind. It’s always part of why we do what we do—because we’ve seen firsthand that sacrifice, and we want to make sure we follow through on it,” Hegseth said.
This thought process is visibly present in the programming that Fox created for the holiday weekend. One of the shows Hegseth is most proud of for this weekend’s lineup is “Modern Warriors: Reflections.” He has hosted the “Modern Warriors” series for a few years and even wrote a book with the same name, highlighting many of the veterans stories from the show.
“Just sitting down with combat vets over a beer and in a comfortable setting, telling the real story,” Hegseth said. “Unvarnished, like, ‘Talk to me like it is.’ Three- and four-minute segments on the news show don’t do justice to a lot of the topics we end up talking about.”
“It’s All About Remembrance”
Modern Warriors: A Memorial Day Special
“Modern Warriors: Reflections” focuses on the day and what it really means for veterans and how the country should approach it as well, he said.
“Ultimately it’s all about remembrance. Each guy shares someone they are thinking of and how they honor Memorial Day,” Hegseth said.
He said viewers can catch the Fox News version of the show or go on Fox Nation and get the longer director’s cut.
Inevitably, there will be those in the American public who will thank military members and veterans for their service on Memorial Day. Educating those individuals and recognizing what the day entails is a vital message Hegseth hopes to get across.
“It is not about the veterans here; it’s about the folks who never came home and remembering their ultimate sacrifice,” Hegseth said. “My message to people this Memorial Day and every day is to stop for a moment and think about whether you are living worthy of that maximum sacrifice. Are you following through for those who gave everything, or are we taking it for granted and letting it slip away?”
Hegseth was direct about his own experiences in combat.
“As a vet myself and with your community, I say it all the time myself that I was one bullet, RPG, IED—and really in my instance, it was an RPG that didn’t explode—from being thanked on Veterans Day rather than being memorialized on Memorial Day,” Hegseth said.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t gather together, he said.
“No. 1, drive home the consequence of the day,” Hegseth said. “No. 2, throw a big ol’ party. Drink some beers and hang out with the people you love. The people who aren’t here would want us to do both. Remember and then celebrate the lives we were gifted.”
The Heroes of 9/11
The 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001, is approaching quickly. Fox wanted those heroes to be talked about as well, Hegseth said.
“I was joined by about 50 NYPD, FYNY, Port Authority and New Jersey city fire and police officers. I know Memorial Day is about military service and sacrifice, but these days supporting those who serve is a 24/7, 365-day thing and Tunnel to Towers does that every day,” he explained.
Those terrorist attacks on America rippled across the world and began the two-decade-long Global War on Terror. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation supports those impacted by those events, as well as military veterans and Gold Star families.
Hegseth spent time with the foundation’s chairman and CEO, Frank Siller, who lost his brother in the attacks. He said there will be a few familiar faces on the special, too. One is mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, a big supporter of the foundation.
Supporting Military Charities
In honor of Memorial Day, Fox News Media gave $25,000 to the Navy SEAL Foundation. It also donated $15,000 to the USO, so it can continue supporting military members deployed for COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Fox News Media also pledged to give a yearlong streaming subscription to Fox Nation free to military members and veterans.
“I am really proud of Fox Nation and Fox for doing this one year free for vets and the military…,” Hegseth said. “The vets and military that utilize it are going to love what they’re going to find there. It’s a platform committed to vets, our country, patriotism, to faith, the military and history, just things you won’t find elsewhere.”
You can see the full lineup of shows for Memorial Day by clicking here. If you are a military member or veteran, you can grab your free year’s subscription to Fox Nation here.
