Believe In Yourself

The 2010 book and 2014 movie release, “Unbroken,” tells the incredible story of USC track star, Olympian, and World War II hero Louis Zamperini. It’s a moving story about struggle, perseverance, and the resilience of the human spirit.

The 2015 Rose Parade theme was “Inspiring Stories.” Louis was honored by serving as the Grand Marshal, and a float depicted some events from his life. He passed away before the parade at the age of 97.

Along with two other crewmen, bombardier Louis survived the crash of his B-24 bomber in the South Pacific. He floated on a raft for 47 days, only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and sent to several prisoner-of-war camps.

The starvation, beatings, and hardships he endured and overcame would make most guys feel like a wimp. When liberated in 1945, at the war’s end, Louis was starving, sick, and weighed a mere 75 pounds.

From the beginning of his ordeal, he steadfastly set his face, steeled himself, and resolutely set out to survive and return to his family.

Louis Zamperini said, “You have to have confidence in yourself and believe that no matter what you’re faced with, you can deal with it – you just can’t give up. I could take the beatings and the physical punishment, but it was the attempt to destroy your dignity, to make you a nonentity that was the hardest thing to bear.”

Face tomorrow with an iron will, knowing that God is with you, to help you create something better for your life.