Published: April 20, 2008 01:53 am            

Two battles made an impact

Saturday was the 233rd anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord which were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Without those events, I wonder if other momentous events would have occurred that have had such a direct impact on how we live our lives in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas, today.

Imagine no Continental Army established on June 14, 1775, following those battles on April 19 of that same year, no Declaration of Independence, no final victory at Yorktown, no United States of America, no United States Constitution, no Louisiana Purchase, and no annexation of the Republic of Texas as the 28th state in the union.

It’s amazing how so many other significant events were made possible from brief battles in two small Massachusetts communities between minutemen, armed civilians and British regulars.

Patriot’s Day is celebrated as a civic holiday in Massachusetts and Maine as well as in the Wisconsin public schools. And, since 1969, the holiday is usually observed on the third Monday in April.

We do not celebrate Patriot’s Day in Texas. Yet, I believe that we should take a few minutes this time each year to ponder the actions at Lexington and Concord and their significance to a chain of events that led us to this day in our American history.

Patriotism is usually defined as “love and devotion to one’s country.” Yet, patriotism means different things to different people. Benjamin Rush, in 1773, noted that “patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.”

Noah Webster wrote in 1788 that, “Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.”

My favorite quote is by Justice Joseph Story in 1833 when he challenged future American generations with these words. “Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.”

I believe that we all should know and celebrate our American history while remaining true to the American Creed which states that: “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

The soundtrack of the Ken Burns film, “The War,” features a piece of music entitled the American Anthem composed by Gene Scheer in 1998 and performed at the last two presidential inaugurations.

The Huntsville Community Men’s Choir will sing the American Anthem at the annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday evening, May 26, at the First Baptist Church. It is a great patriotic song with words that serve to rally each of us to perform our patriotic duties and responsibilities to this great country.

`All we’ve been given by those who came before, the dream of a nation where freedom would endure. The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day.

What shall be our legacy, what will our children say? Let them say of me I was one who believed in sharing the blessings I received. Let me know in my heart when my days are through; America, America, I gave my best to you.

Each generation from the plains to distant shore, with the gifts that they were given were determined to leave more. Valiant battles fought together, acts of conscience fought alone.

These are the seeds from which America has grown. Let them say of me I was one who believed in sharing the blessings I received. Let me know in my heart when my days are through; America, America, I gave my best to you.

For those who think they have nothing to share, who fear in their hearts there is no hero there. Know each quiet act of dignity is that which fortifies the soul of a nation that never dies.

Let them say of me I was one who believed in sharing the blessings I received. Let me know in my heart, when my days are through; America, America, I gave my best to you.

Happy Patriot’s Day! Huzzah!

        

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