As we began planning this special issue commemorating America’s 250th birthday, our team found itself wrestling with a surprisingly difficult question: What does 250 years of America look like?
On the surface, it seemed simple. Put an American hero on the cover. But the more we talked about it, the more complicated it became. Who represents America?
Do you feature the oldest living veteran? A Medal of Honor recipient? An active-duty service member? A first responder? A rancher? A business owner? A teacher? How do you choose one American over another when every person who contributes to this country helps shape its story?
Searching for the Right America 250 Cover
At one point, I had what I thought was a clever solution. Instead of putting anyone on the cover, why not make the cover reflective? A mirror. When readers picked up the issue, they would see themselves staring back. After all, regardless of where we come from, what we believe, the color of our skin, our profession or our politics, each of us is part of the fabric that makes America what it is. In many ways, it felt like the perfect answer.
Unfortunately, magazine production is a little less poetic than that. If the printing and/or the paper weren’t flawless, readers would end up looking into something closer to a funhouse mirror than a meaningful tribute to our nation’s 250th anniversary. So, reluctantly, we moved on from that idea and continued searching for the right cover celebrity.
That’s when I called my friend and former Hook & Barrel cover personality, Fox News’ Johnny Joey Jones.
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“Who should be on our July-August 2026 cover?” I asked.
Without hesitation, he answered, “Dakota Meyer.”
Why Dakota Meyer Fit the America 250 Issue
When I asked why, Joey didn’t talk about headlines or notoriety. He pointed to something deeper. Yes, Dakota is one of the youngest living Medal of Honor recipients. Yes, his service and sacrifice have earned him a place in American history. But what stood out most to Joey was the fact that after 16 years away from military service, Dakota reenlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. On top of that, he graduated from the service’s Basic Reconnaissance Course. Here was a man who had already given more to his country than most ever will, yet still felt called to serve again.
That resonated with me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized Dakota wasn’t the cover because he was somehow “more American” than anyone else. He was the cover because he embodied something that has defined America for 250 years: answering the call to serve something bigger than yourself.
A few weeks later, Joey, who also recently reenlisted in the Marines, invited me to attend a veterans event in Fort Worth where he was the keynote speaker. As a regular voice on Fox News, I expected some political commentary. There were a few moments here and there, but that wasn’t the heart of his message. Instead, he spoke about service, community and what truly separates America from much of the world.
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I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively, and one thing I’ve learned is that most people, regardless of where they live, want the same things. They want a safe home, a healthy family, opportunities for their children and a chance to live a meaningful life. Those desires aren’t uniquely American.
America Is Built by Those Who Answer the Call
What may be uniquely American, however, is how often ordinary people answer the call when someone else is in need.
When disaster strikes, Americans show up. When communities are devastated by storms, Americans volunteer, donate, rebuild and support complete strangers. When neighbors are struggling, people step forward. We answer the call not because we’re required to, but because it’s ingrained in who we are. We answer it when it’s inconvenient. We answer it when it’s uncomfortable. We answer it when no one is watching. We answer it because helping one another is woven into the character of this nation.
As I sat there listening, my mind drifted back to that original mirror-cover concept.
Maybe the idea wasn’t wrong after all.
The truth is, America has never been defined by a single person. It isn’t defined by a politician, a celebrity, a soldier or even a Medal of Honor recipient.
America is the collective reflection of hundreds of millions of people from different backgrounds, faiths, cultures, professions and perspectives. What binds us together is not that we all agree. It’s that, when tested, we have a remarkable ability to come together and carry one another forward.
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That is why Dakota Meyer is on this cover. Not because he represents every American, but because he represents a quality that exists within America itself: service, sacrifice and the willingness to answer the call.
In many ways, the cover still is a mirror. Because when you look at Dakota Meyer, I hope you don’t just see a Marine, a Medal of Honor recipient or an American hero. I hope you see a reflection of the very thing that has carried this country through 250 years of triumph, hardship, division, growth and progress.
I hope you see yourself.
Happy 250th Birthday, America,
John J. Radzwilla
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF