There is no doubt Fox & Friends Weekend host Rachel Campos-Duffy loves the United States of America.
There is also no doubt the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice over the last 250 years loved this country.
With this love in mind, Campos-Duffy — along with some friends from Fox — found a new way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by reminiscing about why they love America in her new book, All-American Patriotism, which was released just in time for Memorial Day.
A Fox News Family Affair
“It’s a compilation of chapters written by all the different friends of mine at the network,” the Fox & Friends host said. “Each chapter is very different because each writer is different. They all come from a different part of this country and have a different experience with America. But what they share is this deep, deep love and affection for the country and for all that it’s done for them and their families.”
From descendants of Revolutionary War heroes to living the American dream, Campos-Duffy’s book has it all. And it beautifully showcases the many different perspectives of what makes America great. It wouldn’t be possible without the ultimate sacrifice.
“I just think that we don’t think enough about how lucky we are to live in this country,” Campos-Duffy said. She later added, “I think we’re coming out of some years where we were actually told to be ashamed of who we are, who our country is, and our founding and our history. And I’m really hoping that we’re turning the page on that.”
The book features an impressive roster of contributors. “We have a real-life hero — Joey Jones is in it. Dana Perino, Harris Faulkner, Trace Gallagher, Charles Payne, Jimmy Failla, Emily Compagno, Benjamin Hall. I mean, the list goes on and on and on.”
An American Dream, Lived
Her personal story is truly an American dream come true. “My father is first-generation born here, but his parents came from Mexico, and my mother is an immigrant from Spain. My father met her when he was stationed in Spain as a young airman. They met and fell in love, and they started this family.”
She recalled, “My father came from very, very poor beginnings. He was a shoeshine boy in a little town in the mountains of Arizona, where everyone worked in the copper mines.”
Today, all four Campos children have become successful. “My sister is an ambassador in the Dominican Republic. My brother is an extremely successful lawyer. Another one is a successful businessman. And we’re all kind of doing all these great things. And we truly believe we couldn’t accomplish this in any other country.”
Campos-Duffy is hoping her book inspires all who read it to “start thinking about their own proud American stories and how important it is for us to pass that down to our kids, because they’re just not getting that love and appreciation taught to them in a lot of our public schools.”
Passing the Torch
Sole responsibility for instilling patriotism in our children does not rest on the schools alone. “Parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles have a responsibility to counter those messages that our kids are getting in the culture,” Campos-Duffy affirmed, “and tell the story of how America and freedom and liberty and all those rights that are secured to us because of this country, because of our constitution. Because it’s the first place on earth that said our rights come from God and not the state or a monarch.”
One great way Campos-Duffy suggests families can celebrate America 250 and also honor the great patriots who came before is to visit “some place really beautiful and wonderful just a couple hours away that you’ve never gone to — that maybe other people travel across the states to see, but you don’t because it’s in your backyard.”
For Campos-Duffy, who grew up in Arizona, that place was the Grand Canyon. “I think it’s one of the most remarkable places to visit in the world. It is one of the seven wonders, after all. But Arizona has done a phenomenal job of keeping the experience the same as it was back in the ’50s and ’40s when people used to visit. It’s just a must-see place as an American.”
In addition to the Grand Canyon, she believes all Americans should see Yellowstone, the nation’s capital, and Philadelphia. “We have just the most beautiful country. There’s just so much to see everywhere. But if you live near the beach, go to the beach — or take your kids up to the mountains if you live near the mountains.”
The mother of nine believes seeing these places virtually won’t do. “I really encourage people to get their kids off the couch and off the screens, load them up in a car — just like we did in the ’70s and ’80s — and take them somewhere. Not only will they learn something about the country, but I think the family will be better for it.”
Finding Your Path in Media
For those who want to follow in Campos-Duffy’s footsteps and work in media, she has one clear suggestion: get an internship.
“Dig in, see if you like it. The most important thing is to know if it really is your jam.” For a while, Campos-Duffy believed she wanted to be a diplomat, but all that changed with an internship.
“I got an internship with the State Department in Venezuela. While I had a great time in Venezuela — it was not the Venezuela that we know of now. It was a different time. I did realize I didn’t really enjoy the sort of bureaucratic nature of the State Department.” She noted, “It just wasn’t for me.”
This is why she believes interning is “a wonderful thing to figure out who you are and if you really like something.”
All-American Patriotism is Fox News Books’ 19th title. While it was released in time for Memorial Day, Campos-Duffy believes it’s a great read any time of year for those who love this country.
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Krystina Alarcon Carroll contributes features and columns for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
