Happy New Year from National Write Your Congressman

Happy New Year from National Write Your Congressman.  We wish you all the blessings 2012 can bring.

For this year's celebration we would like to give you some famous quotes and toasts given at the stroke of midnight.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow" -Einstein

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man" -Benjamin Franklin

"It is difficult to live in the present, ridiculous to live in the future, and impossible to live in the past.  Nothing is as far away as one minute ago" -Jim Bishop

"The object of a New year is not that we should have a new year.  It is that we should have a new soul" -G.K. Chesterton

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this-To rise above the little things" -John Burroughs

"We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day" -Edith L. Pierce

"To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure" -Ben Jonson

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year" -Emerson

"The bad news is time flies.  The good news is you're the pilot" -Michael Altshuler

A Different Christmas Poem

A Different Christmas Poem

Author Unknown

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So slumbered I, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing off in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!"

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he signed and he said "its really all right,

I'm out here by choice.  I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No One had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died in Europe on a day in December,"

Then he sighed,

"That's a Christmas Gram always remembers."

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue...An American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled,

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Merry Christmas from everyone at National Write Your Congressman.

Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7, 1941

At 7:55 a.m. a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appeared out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious massacre. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States into World War II.

Diplomatic negotiations with Japan had been breaking down. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the naval base in Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at that time they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.

Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless. Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,390 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to fight back against impossible odds. Japan's losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and spoke his now famous words, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

Thanksgiving

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 13 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. The feast consisted of fish (cod, eels, and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster, and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly, wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. As a federal holiday in the U.S. Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year. Together with Christmas and New Years Eve, Thanksgiving is a part of the holiday season.

From all of us at National Write Your Congressman, a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Veteran's Day Nov. 11, 2011

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ended. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, depleted of manpower and supplies and facing imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France.

President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an "Armistice Day" for November 11, 1919 in memory of those who died in World War 1.  Wilson said, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

In 1938 President Calvin Coolidge issued a proclamation to make November 11 the legal holiday, "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1953 a man named Stephan Riod, the owner of a shoe repair shop in Emporia Kansas, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all Veterans, not just those who died in World War I.  With the help of U.S. Representative John Salper a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law, and the name "Armistice" was replaced with "Veterans".

This November 11, 2011,  Americans need to personally thank the Veterans they know for the sacrifice made by them to keep us at home safe with the ability to live in a free country.  If you do not know a Veteran and you see a Soldier in the mall, church, airport, or any where go up and tell that person thank you!

The Stamp Act

On Nov. 1, 1765 in the face of widespread opposition in the American colonies, Parliament enacted the Stamp Act, a taxation measure designed to raise revenue for British military operations in America.

Defense of the American colonies in the French and Indian War (1754-63) and Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-64) were costly affairs for Great Britain, and Prime Minister George Grenville hoped to recover some of these costs by taxing the colonists. In 1764, the Sugar Act was enacted, putting a high duty on refined sugar. Although resented, the Sugar Act tax was hidden in the cost of import duties, and most colonists accepted it. The Stamp Act, however, was a direct tax on the colonists and led to an uproar in America over an issue that was to be a major cause of the Revolution: taxation without representation.

Passed without debate by Parliament in March 1765, the Stamp Act was designed to force colonists to use special stamped paper in the printing of newspapers, pamphlets, almanacs, and playing cards, and to have a stamp embossed on all commercial and legal papers. The stamp itself displayed an image of a Tudor rose framed by the word "America" and the French phrase Honi soit qui mal y pense—"Shame to him who thinks evil of it."

Cuban Missile Crisis - Oct. 14, 1962

On this day in history the Cuban Missile Crisis began, bringing the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear conflict. Photographs taken by a high-altitude U-2 spy plane offered incontrovertible evidence that Soviet-made medium-range missiles in Cuba—capable of carrying nuclear warheads—were now stationed 90 miles off the American coastline.

Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union over Cuba had been steadily increasing since the failed April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, in which Cuban refugees, armed and trained by the United States, landed in Cuba and attempted to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. Though the invasion did not succeed, Castro was convinced that the United States would try again, and set out to get more military assistance from the Soviet Union. During the next year, the number of Soviet advisors in Cuba rose to more than 20,000. Rumors began that Russia was also moving missiles and strategic bombers onto the island. Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev may have decided to so dramatically up the stakes in the Cold War for several reasons. He may have believed that the United States was indeed going to invade Cuba and provided the weapons as a deterrent. Facing criticism at home from more hard-line members of the Soviet communist hierarchy, he may have thought a tough stand might win him support. Khrushchev also had always resented that U.S. nuclear missiles were stationed near the Soviet Union (in Turkey, for example), and putting missiles in Cuba might have been his way of redressing the imbalance. Two days after the pictures were taken, after being developed and analyzed by intelligence officers, they were presented to President Kennedy. During the next two weeks, the United States and the Soviet Union would come as close to nuclear war as they ever had, and a fearful world awaited the outcome.

Article from "The Hill" Constituent Communication

Released Tuesday Oct. 4, 2011, “Communicating With Congress: How Citizen Advocacy is Changing Mail Operations on Capitol Hill” finds that most congressional offices have seen a 200 to 1,000 percent increase in constituent communication volume in the past decade.

Of the 260 report respondents, 95 percent of those on the Senate staff and 89 percent of those on the House staff said that responding to constituent communications was a high priority in their offices. More than half of staffers surveyed also reported spending more time on such communications than they did two years ago.

But staffers in offices embracing technology early on were much more likely to report that they had sufficient resources to manage constituent communications than those offices that were considered late adopters of technology.

One significant factor in technology helping to tackle the load is offices responding to constituent letters via email rather than a reply letter, said Fitch. Those that don’t are operating at a disadvantage.

“In many cases, they’re seeming to apply the 20th-century paradigm of responding to a letter with a letter,” he said. “And that means, ‘OK, let's work weekends and let's work nights,’ and that’s their solution, as opposed to, ‘Wait a minute, this is an entirely new paradigm.’ ”

Additional ways to tackle increased communication include identifying efficiencies and streamlining processes, said Fitch. Offices are also encouraged to create robust websites with greater issue content information, which will reduce the need for constituents to contact lawmakers.

Michael Pagan, communications director for Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), has seen first-hand the benefit of technology in his office. “Yes, our office has definitely seen an increase in constituent communications over the past several years and we do indeed take advantage of technology as much as possible, especially email and social networking sites, to deal with the increase,” he wrote in an email.

While congressional offices continue to labor under restricted staff sizes — looking to technology to fill the gap — the increase in constituent communications could be viewed as a good thing, said Fitch.

“There’s a positive general note in here, in that more people are contacting Congress at a time when cynicism is rising and certainly their approval ratings are going lower,” he said. “They still are the go-to guys, they still are the people that citizens want to interact with and want to communicate with.”...The Hill

To read the entire article go to http://thehill.com/homenews/house/185197-constituent-communications-up-nearly-1000-percent-congress-turns-to-technology

Saluting The Silent Patriots

We at National Write Your Congressman were proud to be a part of showing our gratitude to all the silent patriots in Washington.  Below is the thank you we participated in on Sept. 12, 2011 in the Roll Call.

"A Tribute To Congressonal Staff"

They toil under the dome.  Young, idealistic and dedicated to their bosses, their district, their state, their country.  They answer the mail, creat the schedules, tally the votes, write the press releases and manage the offices.  They are "staffers".

A decade ago their dedication to public service put them in harm's way.  Despite the continued threat, the grueling hours, the countless callers, the minimal pay...they serve our Congress and America.

On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the Congressional Management Foundation and our supporters recognize and honor the sacrifice and contribution of all silent patriots who serve under the dome.

We thank the staff of the United States Congress.

Ronald Reagan Quotes

"Socialism only works in two places:  Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it."

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War:  We win, they lose."

"The most terrifying words in the English language are:  I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."

"Government's view of the economy can be summed up in a few short phrases.  If it moves, tax it.  If it keeps moving, regulate it.  And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenal in the world is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession.  I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first."

"Politics is not a bad profession.  If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book."

-President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America.

Hawaii Becomes 50th State

Congress did not see the importance of the Annexation of Hawaii until 1898 when the island was seen as strategic to the defense of the Main Land during the Spanish-American War.  Again the location proved it's value during World War II.

On August 21, 1959 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii into the Union as the 50th state.  The president also issued an order for an American flag featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows, five six-star rows and four five-star rows.  The new flag became official July 4, 1960.

"The House of Representatives, as our Framers wrote in the United States Constitution, was to be just that - a House that represents the voices, wishes, and heartfelt concerns of the people we represent each day.  I always am appreciative of the opinions I receive from the people, for without their comments I could not do my job successfully.

As a free nation, we are allowed to believe and speak freely, and as such, we have differing opinions on a plethora of issues.  It is the synthesis and evaluation of all of our differing opinions, or constituent correspondence, which gives me the ability to legislate effectively.  I whole-heartedly support the American people telling their representatives what they believe.

Once again, thank you (National Write Your Congressman) for this opportunity to address the importance of constituent correspondence.  Our goal is to reach a wider number of people, and get the American public more involve with their government.  -Congressman Allen B. West, Florida

Thank You National Write Your Congressman

"The mission of your organization to help light the way for responsible Americans to effectively communicate with their legislators is a great importance.

Constituent correspondence is one of the most important aspects of a congressional office.  My website is specifically designed with clear and direct links to encourage my constituents to share their opinions with me.  I was elected to represent the people of the First District of South Carolina and therefore truly value my constituents' concerns and opinions.  I believe that to effectively represent the best interests of my constituents, I must maintain open and responsive lines of communication." -Congressman Tim Scott, 1st District, South Carolina

Letter to National Write Your Congressman

"I want to thank the National Write Your Congressman organization for working to keep Americans informed and involved in the democratic process.  Your organization's bipartisan effort should be commended.

I have always encouraged all West Virginians to reach out to me as often as possible.  I strongly believe in the philosophy of retail government - providing the best possible service to my constituents and being available to hear their ideas, priorities and concerns." -Senator Joe Manchin, III, West Virginia

National Write Your Congressman

"My top priority is to represent Indiana's 9th District well and to back legislation that will put people back to work across the country.  Cutting federal spending will help create jobs and grow the economy in the short and long term.  The more the government borrows, spends and regulates the harder it is for businesses to access capital, grow, and create jobs.  Our federal government is getting too large and is spending at unsustainable levels.  We must get the economic engine of our country up and running again.  I will continue to embrace opportunities to trim the federal budget while simultaneously making government more efficient, effective and responsive to the American people.  Your imput and involvement in the legislative process to notify me of the issues that are most important to you help me make the most equitable decisions for the greatest number of my constituents possible." -Congressman Todd Young, Indiana

14th Amendment July 28, 1868

Following its ratification by the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing to African Americans citizenship and all its privileges, was officially adopted into the US Constitution.
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Two years after the Civil War, the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the South into five military districts, where new state governments, based on universal manhood suffrage, were established. Thus began the period known as Radical Reconstruction, which saw the 14th Amendment, which had been passed by Congress in 1866, ratified in July 1868. The amendment resolved pre-Civil War questions of African American citizenship by stating that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States...are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside." The amendment then reaffirmed the privileges and rights of all citizens, and granted all these citizens the "equal protection of the laws."

Americans Walk On The Moon

On July 20, 1969 President Richard Nixon joined approximately 500 million people around the world in watching Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin as the astronauts left their lunar landing module and were the first human beings to walk on the moon. (The Soviet Union and China, America's two biggest rivals in the space race, banned the broadcast in their respective countries.) After they planted an American flag on the moon's surface and Neil Armstrong spoke his famous quote, "That's one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind", the astronauts spoke directly to President Nixon who congratulated them on their historic mission. His phone was linked via satellite through the NASA control center in Houston, Texas.

A Little History - Aaron Burr Kills Alexander Hamilton In Duel July 11, 1804

In a duel held in Weehawken, New Jersey, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, a leading Federalist and the chief architect of America's political economy, died the following day.

Alexander Hamilton, born on the Caribbean island of Nevis, came to the American colonies in 1773 as a poor immigrant.  In 1776, he joined the Continental Army in the American Revolution, and his relentless energy and remarkable intelligence brought him to the attention of General George Washington, who took him on as an aid. Ten years later, Hamilton served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and he led the fight to win ratification of the final document, which created the kind of strong, centralized government that he favored. In 1789, he was appointed the first secretary of the treasury by President Washington, and during the next six years he crafted a sophisticated monetary policy that saved the young U.S. government from collapse. With the emergence of political parties, Hamilton was regarded as a leader of the Federalists.

Aaron Burr, born into a prestigious New Jersey family in 1756, was also intellectually gifted, and he graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) at the age of 17. He joined the Continental Army in 1775 and distinguished himself during the Patriot attack on Quebec. A masterful politician, he was elected to the New State Assembly in 1783 and later served as state attorney. In 1790, he defeated Alexander Hamilton's father-in-law in a race for the U.S. Senate.

Hamilton came to detest Burr, whom he regarded as a dangerous opportunist, and he often spoke ill of him. When Burr ran for the vice presidency in 1796 on Thomas Jefferson Democratic-Republican ticket (the forerunner of the Democratic Party), Hamilton launched a series of public attacks against Burr, stating, "I feel it is a religious duty to oppose his career." John Adams won the presidency, and in 1797 Burr left the Senate and returned to the New York Assembly.

In 1800, Jefferson chose Burr again as his running mate. Burr aided the Democratic-Republican ticket by publishing a confidential document that Hamilton had written criticizing his fellow Federalist President John Adams. This caused a rift in the Federalists and helped Jefferson and Burr win the election with 73 electoral votes each. Under the electoral procedure then prevailing, president and vice president were not voted for separately; the candidate who received the most votes was elected president, and the second in line, vice president. The vote then went to the House of Representatives. What at first seemed but an electoral technicality--handing Jefferson victory over his running mate--developed into a major constitutional crisis when Federalists in the lame-duck Congress threw their support behind Burr. After a remarkable 35 tie votes, a small group of Federalists changed sides and voted in Jefferson's favor. Alexander Hamilton, who had supported Jefferson as the lesser of two evils, was instrumental in breaking the deadlock.

Burr became vice president, but Jefferson grew apart from him, and he did not support Burr's renomination to a second term in 1804. That year, a faction of New York Federalists, who had found their fortunes drastically diminished after the ascendance of Jefferson, sought to enlist the disgruntled Burr into their party and elect him governor. Hamilton campaigned against Burr with great fervor, and Burr lost the Federalist nomination and then, running as an independent for governor, the election. In the campaign, Burr's character was savagely attacked by Hamilton and others, and after the election he resolved to restore his reputation by challenging Hamilton to a duel, or an "affair of honor," as they were known.

Affairs of honor were commonplace in America at the time, and the complex rules governing them usually led to an honorable resolution before any actual firing of weapons. In fact, the outspoken Hamilton had been involved in several affairs of honor in his life, and he had resolved most of them peaceably. No such recourse was found with Burr, however, and on July 11, 1804, the enemies met at 7 a.m. at the dueling grounds near Weehawken, New Jersey. It was the same spot where Hamilton's son had died defending his father's honor two years before.

There are conflicting accounts of what happened next. According to Hamilton's "second"--his assistant and witness in the duel--Hamilton decided the duel was morally wrong and deliberately fired into the air. Burr's second claimed that Hamilton fired at Burr and missed. What happened next is agreed upon: Burr shot Hamilton in the stomach, and the bullet lodged next to his spine. Hamilton was taken back to New York, and he died the next afternoon.

Few affairs of honor actually resulted in deaths, and the nation was outraged by the killing of a man as eminent as Alexander Hamilton. Charged with murder in New York and New Jersey, Burr, still vice president, returned to Washington, D.C., where he finished his term immune from prosecution.

Happy 4th of July - Independence Day

John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, on the second day of July, 1776, "Today will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

This 4th of July please be mindful of the blessing  we as Americans are celebrating .  Remember all the sacrifices that delivered this day to us, and all the sacrifices that are made every day to enable us to keep it.

The American Seal

On June 20, 1782, Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States after six years of discussion.

The front of the seal depicts a bald eagle clutching an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left. On its breast appears a shield marked with 13 vertical red and white stripes topped by a bar of blue. The eagle's beak clutches a banner inscribed, E pluribus unum, a Latin phrase meaning "Out of Many One." Above the eagle's head, golden rays burst forth, encircling 13 stars.  The 13 Vertical stripes and the 13 stars stood for the original 13 colonies.

The Statue of Liberty Arrives From France

The Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, arrived in New York City's harbor on June 17, 1886.

Originally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World," the statue was proposed by French historian Edouard Laboulaye to commemorate the Franco-American alliance during the American Revolution. Designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the 151-foot statue was the form of a woman with an uplifted arm holding a torch.

The dismantled Statue of Liberty arrived in the New World, enclosed in more than 200 packing cases. Its copper sheets were reassembled, and the last rivet of the monument was fitted on October 28, 1886 during a dedication presided over by President Grover Cleveland.

On the pedestal was inscribed "The New Colossus," a famous sonnet by American poet Emma Lazarus that welcomed immigrants to the United States with the declaration, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." Six years later, Ellis Island, adjacent to Bedloe's Island, opened as the chief entry station for immigrants to the United States, and for the next 32 years more than 12 million immigrants were welcomed into New York harbor by the sight of "Lady Liberty."  In 1924, the Statue of Liberty was made a national monument.

History of National Flag Day

The idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School District, to observe June 14, the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes, as 'Flag Birthday'. 

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.


On May 8th Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization known as the American Flag Day Association was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks with more than 300,000 children participating.

Adults also participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."
Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

D-Day

On June 6, 1944, the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II.

With Hitler's armies in control of most of mainland Europe, the Allies knew that a successful invasion of the continent was central to winning the war. Hitler knew this too, and was expecting an assault on northwestern Europe in the spring of 1944. He hoped to repel the Allies from the coast with a strong counterattack that would delay future invasion attempts, giving him time to throw the majority of his forces into defeating the Soviet Union in the east. Once that was accomplished, he believed an all-out victory would soon be his.
On the morning of June 5, 1944, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history. On his orders, 6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying 176,000 troops began to leave England for the trip to France. That night, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.
By dawn on June 6, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground; the land invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah. The task was much tougher at Omaha beach, however, where 2,000 troops were lost and it was only through the tenacity and quick-wittedness of troops on the ground that the objective was achieved. By day's end, 155,000 Allied troops, Americans, British and Canadians, had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.

The Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of celebrated commander Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was away on leave. At first, Hitler, believing that the invasion was a feint designed to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the Seine River, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack and reinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays. He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in the defense. In addition, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops.

By the end of June, the Allies had 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy and were poised to continue their march across Europe.

President Ronald Reagan - This Day in History

In a remarkable and symbolic address to a group of Moscow University students on May 31, 1988 President Reagan stood in front of an enormous bust of Lenin and spoke openly about freedom, technology, creativity and his desire to see the Berlin Wall torn down. He told the students, "your generation is living in one of the most exciting, hopeful times in Soviet history when the first breath of freedom stirs the air and the heart beats to the accelerated rhythm of hope, when the accumulated spiritual energies of a long silence yearn to break free."

On Nov. 9, 1989 the deadly Berlin Wall, separating East from West Germany, came down.

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates men and women who died while in military service to the United States.   It was First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War.   It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

Write Your Congressman

-"In a time of great uncertainty, it is more important than ever for the American people to become energized and excercise their rights as citizens of this great nation by writing their Congressmen.  The American people need to safeguard our nation by holding their Congressman accountable and continue to help us serve by conveying their concerns.  Although I represent California's 19th district, I cannot pretend to know every issue confronting each household and every individual's concern.  Without the letters of the members of California's 19th district, I cannot effectively advocate on their behalf in Washington.

I would like to extend my gratitude to those who take the time to write my office.  Engaged and active citizens help keep Washington honest and true to the values and tenets at the core of the America.  Perhaps the greatest pleasure I have serving in Congress is hearing from my neighbors and fellow citizens in California's Central Valley.  I can only hope to continue this great privilege for years to come." -Congressman Jeff Denham, 19th Dist. California

National Write Your Congressman Constituent Communicaiton Award

"Thank you for presenting me with the National Write Your Congressman Constituent Communication Award.  I am honored to accept this award, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

I will be proud to display this award, which will serve as a daily reminder of the importance of communicating with Hoosiers."  -Senator Dan Coats, Indiana

Ronald Reagan Quote

"The task that has fallen to us Americans is to move the conscience of the world.  To keep alive the hope and dream of freedom." -President Ronald Reagan

John Cornyn

"During my service in the Senate, I have made open government a priority.  I strongly believe that, regarding ethics in government sunlight is perhaps the best disinfectant of all.  Our founders understood that a free society could not exist without informed citizens and an open, accessible government.  And the more information we put into the hands of American people regarding Congress' daily activities, the stronger our democracy will be."  -Senator John Cornyn, Texas

Constituent Communicaiton Award

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01) was presented with the National Write Your Congressman “Constituent Communication Award” for his efforts to communicate with his constituents and ensure that their voices are being heard.

“I am honored to receive this important award,” said Gosar.  “Whether it is at a town hall meeting, on the phone, via email, or out in the district, I always enjoy hearing from the people of Arizona’s First Congressional District.  I want to encourage everyone to share their ideas with me on how we can find solutions to the problems that face our country.  Together we will make a difference and ensure that our children have the same opportunities that we have had.”

The President's Room

During the 1860's and early 1870's an artist named Constantino Brumidi worked his magic creating the Capitol's most impressive showroom, The President's Room.  Brumidi frescoed his own art gallery on square inch after square inch of ceiling and walls.  In addition to panels showing the members of Washington's first Cabinet, he painted curlicued designs framing symbolic figures, pensive Madonnas, and happy cherubs.

Though Presidents seldom visit this room now, many Chief Executives, beginning in the 1860's sat at its oval table, signing 11th hour bills into law.

Though Brumidi did not complete every  space he was quoted saying "Sooner or later disfiguring panels must be completed".  In 1957 a special Senate Committee headed by future President John F. Kennedy, chose five outstanding Senators and leaders of the past to be honored by protraits painted in the medallions.  Chosen were "the Great Triumvirate" Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Robert M. La Follette, Sr, and Robert A. Taft.

Happy Easter and Passover from National Write Your Congressman

PASSOVER

April 19, 2011 to April 26, 2011:

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, the holiday commemorating the Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt, lasts seven days in Israel and among Reform Jews, and eight days elsewhere around the world. It begins on the 15th day of Nisan, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. It ends on the 21st of Nisan in Israel (and for Reform Jews) and on the 22nd of Nisan elsewhere.

Since Hebrew days begin and end at sundown, Passover begins at sundown on the preceding day.

EASTER

April 24, 2011:

Easter, celebrating Jesus Christ's rising from the dead, is calculated as the first Sunday after the paschal full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is the following Sunday. The holiday can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21). And by full moon it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the "ecclesiastical moon," which is based on tables created by the church. These constructs allow the date of Easter to be calculated in advance rather than determined by actual astronomical observances, which are naturally less predictable. See also A Tale of Two Easters.

The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. established that Easter would be celebrated on Sundays; before that Easter was celebrated on different days in different places in the same year.

April 21, 1836 Battle of San Jacinto

After gaining independence from Spain in the 1820s, Mexico welcomed foreign settlers to sparsely populated Texas, and a large group of Americans led by Stephen F. Austin settled along the Brazos River. The Americans soon outnumbered the resident Mexicans, and by the 1830s attempts by the Mexican government to regulate these semi-autonomous American communities led to rebellion. In March 1836, in the midst of armed conflict with the Mexican government, Texas declared its independence from Mexico.

The Texas volunteers initially suffered defeat against the forces of Santa Anna. Sam Houston's troops were forced into an eastward retreat, and the Alamo fell. However, on April 21, 1836, Houston's army surprised a Mexican force at San Jacinto, and Santa Anna was captured bringing an end to Mexico's effort to subdue Texas. In exchange for his freedom, Santa Anna recognized Texas' independence..

April 18, 1775 American Revolution Begins

At about 5 a.m., 700 British troops, on a mission to capture Patriot leaders and seize a Patriot arsenal, marched into Lexington, Virginia to find 77 armed minutemen under Captain John Parker waiting for them on the town's common green. British Major John Pitcairn ordered the outnumbered Patriots to disperse, and after a moment's hesitation the Americans began to drift off the green. Suddenly, the "shot heard around the world" was fired from an undetermined gun, and a cloud of musket smoke soon covered the green. When the brief Battle of Lexington ended, eight Americans lay dead or dying and 10 others were wounded. Only one British soldier was injured, but the American Revolution had begun.

April 12, 1861 Civil War Begins

On this day in history, April 12, 1861, the Civil War began.  The bloodiest four years in American history began when Confederate shore batteries under General P.G.T. Beauregard open fired on Union held Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Bay.  During the next 34 hours, 50 Confederate guns and mortars launched more than 4,000 rounds at the poorly supplied fort.  On April 13, U.S. Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort.  Two days later President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteer soldiers to quell the Southern "insurrection".

America's Economic Independence Begins 1776

On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress took the first step toward American independence by announcing their decision to open all American ports to international trade with any part of the world that was not under British rule.

It was the first act of independence by the Continental Congress that had so openly and publicly rejected the American Prohibitory Act passed by the British parliament in December 1775. The act was designed to punish the American colonies for the rebellion against the King and British rule, which had begun with the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775 by banning all British trade with America. It was, in essence, a declaration of economic warfare by Great Britain. For its part, the Continental Congress' decision to open all ports to any country but those ruled by Britain constituted America's declaration of economic independence.

National Write Your Congressman

"I cannot stress to you how much I value and appreciate the input and insights of individuals in the community I represent.  Whether it is by postal mail, e-mails, faxes, or phone calls, their concerns and opinions are very important to me as a United States Congressman.

I would like to thank you and National Write Your Congressman for the years of outstanding work in informing people about national issues and in helping them connect with their elected officials." -Congressman Chris Van Hollen, 8th District, Maryland

Constituent Opinion

"As an elected official, I can't do my job properly unless I know my constituents' opinions and concerns.  That's why it's so important that citizens take the time to write their representatives to let them know how they feel.  An informed and intelligent dialogue between government and the citizenry is critical to the well-being of our democracy.  I may not always agree with everything that people write to me, but know that I take every letter and e-mail seriously, and always take the time to respond.

I applaud your ongoing efforts to strengthen participatory democracy through the encouraging of constituent correspondence.  Keep up the good work!" -Congressman Jose' Serrano, New York, NY

Edmund Randolph - Founding Father

On May 29, 1787, Edmund Randolph introduced the Virginia Plan he and Madison had written to the Constitutional Convention.  It was the first time the idea of a new form of government was formally presented to the delegates by outlining the fifteen resolves that called for a national executive, judiciary, and legislature.

Randolph was not pleased with some of the additions and revisions to the Virginia Plan the delegates introduced and refused to sign the final document.  He later shocked anti-Federalists when he changed his mind making Virginia the 9th and final state needed to ratify the Constitution.  Patrick Henry accused him of only doing this because of a promised postion with the new government.  Randolph denied the accusation, but was named the United States first Attorney General right after Washington was elected.

50 Year Anniversary of the Peace Corps

On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued an Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State.  Thousands of young Americans answered the call to duty by volunteering.  The agency, which was headed by President Kennedy's brother-in-law, R. Sargent Shriver, chose 750 volunteers to serve in 13 nations.  The goal was to promote peace and friendship through 1) helping peoples of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women in development efforts; 2) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and 3) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Today more than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in over 70 countries.  Since 1961, more than 180,000 American have joined the Peace Corps and served in 134 nations.

Earned Freedom

"Our forefathers put their lives on the line to earn our freedom and frame our Representative Democracy.  Our nation's brave soldiers and veterans have been fighting to defend this American way of life for over 225 years.  I hope that no one takes our freedoms for granted, and that everyone takes the time to contact their Representative." -Congressman Tim Ryan, 17th Dist. Ohio

Feb. 23, 1945 U.S. Flag Hoisted on Iwo Jima

In early 1945, U.S. military command sought to gain control of the island of Iwo Jima in advance of the projected aerial campaign against the Japanese home islands.  Iwo Jima, 700 miles from Japan, was to be a base for fighter aircraft and an emergency landing site for bombers.  On Feb. 19, 1945, after three days of heavy naval and aerial bombardment, the first wave of U.S. Marines stormed onto Iwo Jima's shores.

The Japanese garrison numbered 22,000 heavily entrenched men.  The island was covered in intricate and deadly systems of underground tunnels, fortifications, and artillery.  During the next few days, the Marines advanced inch by inch under heavy fire from Japanese artillery and suffered suicidal charges from the Japanese infantry.  While Japanese kamikaze flyers slammed into the Allied naval fleet around Iwo Jima, the Marines continued their bloody advance across the island with remarkable endurance.  On February 23, the crest of the 550 foot Mount Suribachi was taken.  Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press took the now famous photo of 5 Marines and one Navy corpsman struggling to hoist the American flag.

Two other photos were taken that day.  The 3rd photo had 18 soldiers smiling and waving for the cameras.  Many of these men, including three of the six soldiers seen raising the flag in Rosenthal's Pulitzer Prize winning photo were killed before the conclusion of the Battle for Iwo Jima in late March.

Thank You to NWYC

"I would like to stress the importance of constituents communicating their feelings to their elected officials on important issues.  We are elected to serve the interests of the people, and hearing from them on a regular basis allows us to keep the wide variety of interests in mind.

I would like to thank the National Write Your Congressman for the years of outstanding work in connecting people with their elected officials.  This fine organization is helping to keep democracy and accountabliity alive in the United States, and we are indebted to their service.

It is an honor to represent the people of the Eighteenth Congressional District of Florida." -Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 18th District, Florida

President's Day

Presidents Day is ostensibly a time to celebrate the great men who helped shape the nation.

We once celebrated the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln separately, a honor befitting their  legacies. It’s universally accepted that their accomplishments merit unequal treatment in that regard. It was Richard Nixon who decided to replace Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays for the more generic "Presidents Day", which takes place on the third Monday in February.

George Washington, the father of our country, is best remembered for holding the militia together during the early years of the Revolutionary War. His time as president is sometimes considered an afterthought to his military escapades. But perhaps his most decisive triumph came in the summer of 1794, when as president he personally led the militia that put down the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington knew that failure to end the insurrection would render the Constitution — and the notion of Federal supremacy — impotent.  It was too important to delegate to others, so he donned his old uniform, saddled up, and marched through Western Pennsylvania, where he quickly scattered 7,000 disgruntled distillers.  How the course of history would have been different had he failed to squelch the uprising.

Abraham Lincoln called his decision to emancipate the slaves the defining act of his presidency and the 19th century.  He was wrong in one regard: it’s arguably the defining action in American history.  What’s often overlooked is how much Lincoln personally struggled with it.  While he found slavery morally contemptible, he didn’t believe the president had the constitutional power to abolish it. Moreover, he was concerned that emancipation would push the border-states into the Confederacy, a potentially lethal blow to the Union. But with the war going poorly, he came to realize that universal freedom and preserving the Union were inextricable; one not achievable without the other. Emancipation was a huge gamble, one that ultimately paid off.

One could argue that Ronald Reagan’s decision to call the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire” marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War.  In an instant, he had forever branded the longtime adversary as being on the wrong side of history, a fate that would reveal itself in the ensuing years. Many in the White House, including some of his closest aide, did not want Reagan to use the phrase.  They thought the term "impolitic and un-presidential", but Reagan felt otherwise. He was determined to end the notion of moral equivalency between the two systems, a concept that was gaining steam with the media elite.  With a few simple words he shattered that myth.

On This Day In History - 1st and Last President of the Confederate States of America

On this day in 1861, Jefferson Davis, a veteran of the Black Hawk and Mexican-American Wars, began his term as provisional president of the Confederate States of America. As it turned out, Davis was both the first and last president of the ill-fated Confederacy, as both his term and the Confederacy ended with the Union's 1865 victory of the Civil War.

This Day In History - VOA Broadcasts to Soviet Union

With the words, "Hello! This is New York calling," the U.S. Voice of America (VOA) begins its first radio broadcasts to the Soviet Union. The VOA effort was an important part of America's propaganda campaign against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The VOA began in 1942 as a radio program designed to explain America's policies during World War II and to bolster the morale of its allies throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. After the war, VOA continued as part of America's Cold War propaganda arsenal and was primarily directed toward the western European audience. In February 1947, VOA began its first Russian-language broadcasts into the Soviet Union. The initial broadcast explained that VOA was going to "give listeners in the USSR a picture of life in America." News stories, human-interest features, and music comprised the bulk of the programming. The purpose was to give the Russian audience the "pure and unadulterated truth" about life outside the USSR. Voice of America hoped that this would "broaden the bases of understanding and friendship between the Russian and American people."

George Clymer - Founding Father

George Clymer was a man of wealth who literally risked his fortune on the revolution by exchanging his hard coin monies for the shaky Continental currency.  During the capture of Philadelphia his home was plundered and destroyed by the British

Clymer signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.  A man of unusual intellectual curiosity, he also served as an officer of the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Agricultural Society.  He was one of the first to advocate complete independence from Britain, and was called upon by the Continental Congress to serve as the first treasurer for the United Colonies.  He was given the almost impossible assignment of raising money to support the government's operations, chief of which was the new Continental Army.

In 1791, after a term in the First Congress, Clymer served as Federal Collector of the controversial tax on liquor which led to the Whiskey Rebellion.  He concluded his career by negotiating an equitable peace treaty between the United States and the Creek Tribe in Georgia.

A Bit of Trivia

On this day in 1903, toy store owner and inventor Morris Michtom placed two stuffed bears in his shop window, advertising them as Teddy bears. Michtom had earlier petitioned President Theodore Roosevelt for permission to use his nickname, Teddy. The president agreed and, before long, other toy manufacturers began turning out copies of Michtom's stuffed bears, which soon became a national childhood institution.

Reports differ as to the exact details of the inspiration behind the teddy bear, but it is thought that while hunting in Mississippi in 1902, Roosevelt came upon an old injured black bear that his guides had tied to a tree. While some reports claim Roosevelt shot the bear out of pity for his suffering, others insist he set the bear free. Political cartoonists later portrayed the bear as a cub, implying that under the tough, outdoorsy and macho image of Roosevelt lay a much softer, more sensitive interior.

Write Your Congressman

"What makes ours a strong and independent nation is the importance that we place on self government.  As a Representative of the people of Montana, I place the highest importance on hearing from them and learning what they think about issues important to our state.  Every piece of mail that arrives in our office comes across my desk first.  I then distribute the mail to my staff.  This way, I get the first look at the ideas and concerns of the people of our state.  There are no filters to their messages, and I depend on this connection with the people of Montana." -Congressman Denny Rehberg, Montana

Democracy Only Works When Americans Participate

"As I have always said, Arkansas Comes First, is more than just a slogan.  It is my commitment that as a U.S. Senator I will work hard every day to represent the interests and concerns of the prople of Arkansas.

Since a majority of my time is spent in Washington representing Arkansas, I welcome the thoughtful phone calls, emails and letters from constituents back home.  Whether a suggestion or a criticism, this correspondence helps me make the best possible decisions when casting votes or supporting legislation.  I also place responding to the incoming mail and phone calls among my highest priorities.

Democracy only works when Americans participate in their government, and when their voices a heard.  I encourage the National Write Your Congressman organization to continue its efforts in helping bring public officials and their consittuents together."  Mark Pryor, Senator, Arkansas

Elbridge Gerry - Founding Father

Gerry was a patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence and the articles of Confederation, but refused to sign the U.S. Constitution.  He worked vigorously for independence from the "prostituted government of Great Britain" yet feared the dangers of "too much democracy".  Although he championed the people and their rights, he believed that the common man could be too easily swayed by unprincipled politicians for democracy to work.

Elbridge was elected Vice-President when Madison was elected to a second term in 1812, and he was serving in his official capacity when he died suddenly.  Ironically, he was riding to the Capitol to perform the duties of the President of the Senate, a constitutional function of the Vice-President that he had objected to in 1787, and one of the reasons he had refused to sign the U.S. Constitution.

Challenger Space Shuttle

At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Chanllenger lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe was on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space.  Christa was a 37 year old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire who won a competition that earned her a place among the seven member crew of the Challenger.  She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the Challenger's launch countdown was repeatedly delayed because of weather and technical problems.  Finally , on January 28, the shuttle lifted off with Christa McAuliffe and Astronauts Mike Smith, Dick Scobee, Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka,  Greg Jarvis, and Judith Resnik.

Seventy three seconds later, hundreds on the ground, including Christa's family, stared in disbelief as the shuttle exploded in a forking plume of smoke and fire. Millions more watched in horror as the tragedy unfolded on live television.  There were no survivors. 

Founding Father - John Hancock

Patriot, rebel leader, merchant - John Hancock signed his name into immortality in giant strokes on the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the boldness of his signature making it live in American minds as a perfect expression of the strength and freedom - and defiance - of the individual in the face of British tyranny.

As President of the Continental Congress, Hancock was the presiding officer when the members approved the Declaration of Independence, and because of his position, it was his official duty to sign the document first, but not necessarily as dramatically as he did.

Hancock figured prominently in another historic event, the battle at Lexington.  British troops who fought there April 19, 1775, had known Hancock and Sam Adams were in Lexington and had come there to capture these rebel leaders.  The two would have been captured, if they had not been warned by Paul Revere.-The Book of The Founding Fathers by Vincent Wilson, Jr.

President Kennedy's Inaugural Address - A wonderful read

Jan. 20, 1961

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.	1
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.	2
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.	3
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge—and more. Please follow the link to read or listen to the entire speech:   http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural2.htm

Jan. 20, 1981 Ronald Reagan the 40th President of The United States

30 Years ago today Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of The United States, gave his inauguration speech.  President Reagan was a man who did not believe that government had the answers.  He was a believer in the constitution and "of the people, by the people, and for the people."  He addressed this in his speech.

"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price." 
 
For complete speech:  http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres61.html

The Purpose

"The American Revolution was a political, not a social revolution; it was about emancipating individuals for the pursuit of happiness, not about the state allocating wealth and opportunity. Hence our exceptional Constitution, which says not what government must do for Americans but what it cannot do to them." -George Will