Founding Father John Adams wrote a stirring letter to his wife on July 3rd. An excerpt:
"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
"You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."
Today, two-and-a-half centuries later, we remember those who pledged -- and in many cases sacrificed -- their lives and their fortunes, but who never gave up their sacred honor. We have a long way to go to be worthy of the gift they left us.
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Miss Smudge and I did, in fact, make our way into town for the National Guard's Flyover Arkansas event. I chose what seemed to be an obvious vantage point -- knowing that the pair of Blackhawk helicopters would approach from the south and turn left over Yellville, I set up at the picnic area at the west edge of town.
It couldn't've been more perfect, perched on high ground overlooking the town. And we had the place almost all to ourselves.
As expected, the choppers appeared off to our right shortly before 10am. They circled the business district twice, passing directly over us each time, before heading toward Harrison.
It was a simple tribute, humble bordering on quaint. Just two military helicopters, flying low and slow over a small Ozarkansas town to celebrate this exceptional nation's 250th birthday.
Damn, I love it here.
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Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
