WASHINGTON D.C. – A new report from the Institute for Economic Sentiment (IES) reveals that American motorists are experiencing an unprecedented surge in patriotism, directly proportional to the recent spike in gasoline prices. Drivers across the country, now routinely paying upwards of $4 per gallon, describe a profound connection to national security interests previously unachievable at lower price points.

“Every time I fill up my F-150, I just feel… more American,” stated Chad 'Diesel' Peterson, a self-employed landscaper from Ohio, wiping a tear from his eye. “It’s like I’m personally contributing to the defense of freedom, one premium octane molecule at a time. Who needs a parade when you’ve got a gas pump?”

Dr. Evelyn Reed, lead researcher at the IES, explained the phenomenon. “Our data suggests that the financial burden of fuel acts as a psychological trigger, transforming a mundane errand into a profound act of national service. The higher the price, the more deeply embedded the consumer feels in the nation’s strategic objectives, regardless of how vaguely those objectives are articulated.” She noted a significant uptick in bumper stickers featuring bald eagles and thinly veiled threats to foreign powers.

Analysts predict that should gas prices reach $5 per gallon, citizens may spontaneously begin saluting their own vehicles.