Not Just Fireworks, Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie

Several years ago I traveled with my family to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. We took in all the familiar sights, tracing much of the history of the American Revolution.

I was reminded of that trip this week as I read the book Patriots: The Men Who Started The American Revolution. It’s a good, fairly fast read. And this weekend I am moved and inspired, again, by the hearts and minds of our founding fathers.

I believe that when one reads about and remembers the vision and sacrifices of those who gave so much to guarantee our freedom, it does great things to that individual's heart, mind and will.

So this weekend let’s enjoy the fireworks, baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. But let’s also remember the freedom we enjoy and the sacrifices of the men and women, the Patriots, who were authors of the American Revolution and of our nation.

Don’t let the weekend pass without at least re-reading the Declaration of Independence or “google-ing” one of these names/words that evoke so much emotion and inspiration:

John Adams

Ben Franklin

Samuel Adams

Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Paine

Thomas Jefferson

Paul Revere

Patrick Henry

George Washinton

John Hancock

Richard Henry Lee

The Boston Tea Party

Lexington and Concord

Bunker Hill

Battle of Saratoga

Valley Forge

Battle of Yorktown

From our Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness……For the support of this Declaration with the firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

And finally, this weekend I am reminded of the words of Ronald Reagan, our 40th President…

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”