Forgotten War – ‘National’ Poem

1812 – most of us can remember there was a war by that name: The War of 1812.  The more famous and decisive war for Independence starting in 1775 seems to have greater meaning for Americans.  However, the war of 1812-1814 nearly saw the end of the United States of America.

It started because the Americans were tired of the British controlling shipping on the open seas and stopping merchant ships to search for British Royal Navy seamen deserters to replenish their diminishing crews.  When not finding enough men to man their ships, the British took American sailors and impressed them into service aboard British ships.

Another iritation for the Americans was the presence of the British in nearby Canada.  Several campaigns during the war were intended to rid the British from North America and to “solve the Indian question” once and for all.  This all boiled over into the War of 1812, and the British saw an opportunity to get back at the Americans for their defeat a quarter-century earlier.  In their minds the Americans did not have the heart or stomach to fight the British and would run and hide.

The War of 1812 saw the defeat of the greatest army and navy the world has ever seen.  It also saw the near destruction of the government of the United States, the capture and burning of the capital city, and the writing of a poem telling the story of determination and valor that we are reminded of almost daily today.

Old Glory

The name ‘Old Glory’ was first given to the U.S. flag by a young sea captain…

It was March 17, 1824 and Captain William Driver was given a beautiful flag by his mother and a group of Salem, Massachusetts girls for his 21st birthday.  The gift delighted him so much he said “I name her ‘Old Glory’”.

Old Glory accompanied the captain on many voyages through turbulent storms and violent battles.  when Captain Driver quit the sea, he would proudly display Old Glory from his house on Patriotic days, even when others scoffed at his loyalty.

Shortly before his death, the old sea captain placed a small bundle in the arms of his daughter.  He said to her, “This is my ship flag, Old Glory.  It has been my constant companion.  I love it as a mother loves her child.  Cherish it as I have cherished it.”

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute

Not for reproduction without the permission from author.

Let Freedom Ring

The Liberty Bell’s crack may be more than an accident…

The symbol of America’s freedom, the Liberty Bell, bears the inscription from the words of the Old Testament book Leviticus 25.10:

     “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.”

The next time you look at the bell, look at the crack.  It appears to point to the word ‘proclaim.’  Is this the work of Providence reminding each American of our duty to proclaim there is liberty – freedom – in this land for everyone?

The bell and its inscription have set the moral and ethical tone for the country.  We are to put forth the claim throughout the land that there is liberty.  And seeds from the Liberty that sprouted in Colonial soil in 1776 are being scattered around the world.

Liberty Bell

(c) Patrotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

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The First Flag

After losing her husband, Betsy Ross found it difficult to make ends meet.  As a seamstress and upholsterer she would take any work she could find.  Her hard work and attention to detail gained her a reputation of a competent upholsterer.

On a day in May 1776, Betsy Ross was visited by three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress.  George Washington, General of the Continental Army, Robert Morris a wealthy colonial land-owner, and Colonel George Ross, the uncle of her late husband John Ross came to ask her to sew the first flag.  But there was just one stipulation:  it must be kept a secret or they could all be tried for treason.

George Washington showed her a sketch of a design he had for the flag with a six-pointed star.  Betsy Ross showed she could cut a five-pointed star with a single snip and earned the task of making our first flag.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author

Congress and ‘The People’

Being part of an ‘elite’ group may at times affect the way we perceive the abilities and knowledge of others.  As Congress debates the country’s business, how they view the people’s input has always been in question:

“The people…immediately should have as little to do as may be about the Government.  They want information and are constantly liable to be misled”.

“The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy.  The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots…it had been fully confirmed by experience that they are daily misled into the most baneful measures and opinions by the false reports circulated by designing men, and which no one on the spot can refute”.

“No government could long subsist without the consent of the people.  In a republican Government this confidence was peculiarly essential”.

The debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 began with a discussion of the fallacies of the Articles of Confederation.  While debating the form of the new national Government and how those national Legislators should be chosen, some favored the election of the House of Representatives directly by the people, others preferred they be elected by the state Legislatures.

Delegate James Madison, future president, argued: “…that the great fabric to be raised would be more stable and durable, if it should rest on the solid foundation of the people themselves, than if it should stand merely on the pillars of the Legislatures”.

It has been 221 years since that great debate, and 221 years later that ‘great fabric’ has been the most ’stable and durable’ government the world has ever seen.  They designed it as a Republic and its success is because it remains a Republic.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author

A Mob’s Rebellion

Pulling down statues of tyrants is nothing new…

Stirred by the sight of the revolutionary army, the sound of defiance in the Declaration, and the sight of General Washington on horseback, the crowd searched for a way to release their built-up tensions.

The crowd in lower Manhattan moved toward the water front.  When they reached Bowling Green, the statue of King George III on horseback made them stop.  Frozen only for a moment, the rebels stared at the image of oppression.

Then, all at once, they attacked.  Jumping over the railing surrounding the statue, with the help of others, they climbed and shinnied their way up to the head of the King.  Calling for a rope, and accompanied by soldiers who had given up on controlling the mob, they struggled to bring the statue down.

Slowly at first, their straining caused the colossus to start rocking, back and forth.  Finally, the rider and his horse were brought down, the idol crashed to earth and was melted down for ammunition to fight British.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission of author

Lives, Fortunes and Honor

It was principle that brought these men to Philadelphia in June 1776.  They knew what they risked – the penalty for treason was death by hanging.

Of the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, 9 died of wounds or hardships during the war.  Five were captured and imprisoned, suffering brutal treatment.  Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children.  Twelve had their homes burned.  Seventeen lost everything they owned.

Two became presidents of the United States, 7 became governors.  One died in office as Vice President of the United States.  Several would go on to be U. S. Senators.

Not one defected or went back on his pledged word:

     “…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create, is still intact.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author

Independence Declared

On the orders of General Washington, nearly the whole army of the revolution, some 15,000 men, assembled to hear the Declaration of Independence.  The patriots with their old-fashioned muskets, the mis-matched troops from the guard of the thirteen colonies, stood at attention.  Short and tall, lean and squat, young boys and shaggy old men stood side-by-side within sight of the enemy fleet – and listened to the Declaration of Independence:

     “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

No general ever had such an army with different uniforms and assortment of weapons.  Volunteers from 16 to 60, farm boys, fishermen, Puritans, back woodsmen and apprentices.

     “…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

Indeed this was a people’s army…an army of free men, ready to sign the Declaration with their blood.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author

Independence

Original Declaration

Signing the Declaration

 

The signers of the Declaration, weary and tired, were anxious to leave now that their connection to Great Britain had been forever severed.  First, a few last minute details needed to be settled.

A committe to supervise the printing of the Declaration was elected and a resolution passed to have copies sent for public reading to the assemblies of the newly independent states.  Copies were also sent to General Washington for proclamation to the Continental Army and to all the churches to be read on the first Lord’s day after it was received.

Before concluding the historic session on July 4th, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were elected to prepare the official seal, the Great Seal of the newly united states. 

On July 8, 1776 the Declaration of Independence would be read for the first time in public, announced by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author

4 Days of July – July 4, 1776

GENERAL WASHINGTON

By July 4, 1776, General George Washington was desperate for more reinforcements, flints for their guns and provisions for the troops.  Watching as the British and mercenary fleet kept growing in New York harbor, it was only a matter of time before an invasion by the British began.

For several weeks now, General Washington sent daily dispatches reminding the Congress of the critical shortage of men and supplies.  The few reinforcements that were being sent were not enough.

50,000 men were now gathered for a showdown on Manhattan Island.  Muskets and guns were about to resolve the issues being argured by statesmen on both sides of the Atlantic.  The only thing remaining was the bloody business of war, and that was in the hands of General George Washington.

INDEPENDENCE

For two days they edited and changed the wording of the declaration.  Finally, on the 4th of July, 1776, there was agreement on the terms – the document was ready for the vote.  A final reading was ordered:

     “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 – That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

A bold and majestic manifesto, a declaration of freedom for all men, unanimously adopted.  Men of proud vision and violent passion, they signed the charter of freedom with a bold and selfless vow:

     “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mututally pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.”

And so was born the United States of America.