Memorial Day

  

          How will you be spending your Memorial Day? Will you be having a BBQ with your family and friends? Maybe it will be a day at the beach. What will you be thinking of? Will it be your long week at work? Perhaps you’ll have your kids Doctor’s appointment this week. Whatever it is will you be remembering the reason for this Holiday?

            What do you think of when you think of the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom? Am I right in guessing that you think first of the men and women currently serving in our armed forces? Maybe then you think of the past, the soldiers who served in desert storm, then Vietnam, and so on and so on.

            What about others who gave everything including their country to give us what we have today? What about men like Samuel Whittemore, Hezekhiah Wyman, Dr. Samuel Prescott, Dr. Joseph Warren, William Dawes, Charles Dawes, Thomas Dawes, Hannah Davis, Isaac Davis, Lydia Mulliken or even Josiah Haines?

            I know you know the names of John Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Alexander Hamilton, but do you know those others?

            Did you know that those names gave everything for what we have today? They were just a few men who knew that the moment they picked up their muskets against the kings men they were signing their own death warrants. They knew that they would be committing an act of treason, but they also knew that the legacy they were securing for us would be worth the sacrifice.

            The women of the day didn’t shrink from it either. They may not have fought but they knew what they may lose. Hannah Davis lost her husband and was left to care for her four sick children on her own but she never belittled her husband’s choice to go. She knew it was right. Lydia Mulliken lost her fiance ,Dr. Samuel Prescott, her brother, and the pastor who  would have presided over her wedding, her home was burned yet she held on to the same belief that it was the right thing to do.

            Now I know you are probably sitting there asking yourself why I am going on about the first veterans of this nation so I’m going to tell you…

            Our nation is in danger losing a priceless treasure. It’s not a treasure made of gold or precious stones, but it’s a thousand times more valuable… it’s the knowledge of our history, of where we came from and who we are.

            We have the rights and freedoms, which others have fought and died to protect, because those names gave them to us; and all they ask in return is that we never forget. They ask that we live up to the example that they set.

            How do we do that? It’s easier than you think just simply get up and do something. Write a letter to your congressman, or city officials. It’s as simple as just going out to vote. It doesn’t have to be much but even a little is enough.

           Ok now I know your sitting there saying “I’m just one person, I can’t make that much of a difference” but your wrong as our founding fathers taught us, just one person can change the world.

            I first heard the stories of these men and women when my dad talked me into going to an Appleseed shoot last September. Before I go any further let me explain what Appleseed is. Project Appleseed is a program run by the RWVA (Revolutionary War Veterans Association) it’s a weekend course that teaches rifle marksmanship and a little bit of history. That history is based on April 19^th, 1775. The day the war began.

            I’ll admit I didn’t think I would enjoy it at first. I even told my boss to deny the time off request which she forgot to do, but I’m glad she forgot. I had a lot of fun out there. I learned a lot and I had the chance to meet some great people. I still go to shoots every month, except in the winter I’m not a snow person. It’s definitely an event I would recommend to anyone!  

            If shooting isn’t your thing then come on out for the history. Believe it or not even something as small as spending a weekend out at a shooting range with a bunch of fun loving people learning about the men and women that helped to make us who we are is enough to change the world.

            If you are interested in knowing more about Project Appleseed then feel free to visit our web site at:  info@appleseedusa.org.

            We would love to see you at our next event! Until then enjoy your holiday and maybe take a moment to give a little thought or thanks to the men and women who I mentioned earlier, and maybe take a moment out of your day sometime this week to look up their stories.

            One person can make a world of difference.