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