Independence Day is a little unusual in Morrisville. Despite our well-documented colonial heritage, there are no large parades or parties, and we get to watch the Trenton fireworks rather than having some of our own. (Does a school board meeting count as a fireworks display? We certainly seem to set enough off...)
Morrisville can also proudly lay claim to Summerseat and the distinct honor to have TWO signers of the Declaration of Independence to have called our little town on the banks of the Delaware home.
As you relax today and celebrate the freedom they helped to create, remember that freedom is not free. It has to be repurchased and renewed daily. Protection of the freedoms you possess can only be sustained by giving away those same freedoms. Check out Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18. What you give is what you receive. What you sow is what you reap.
Posting and comment approval will be sporadic over the holiday weekend and will depend on the connections my laptop can obtain as we hit the highway and join the other gas guzzlers on the congested interstates.
Happy Independence Day everyone!
Robert Morris
Wikipedia
Virtuology.com
The Men Behind the American Revolution: Robert Morris
Gravesite, Philadelphia, PA
George Clymer
Wikipedia
Entry from Penn State University
From the Clymer, Indiana County, PA website
Gravesite, Trenton, NJ
1 comment:
A Noble Vision
It was the Eve of Christmas, 1776; our country in its infancy, our government fragile and to appeared to the Great Powers of Europe to be at bay;
Our noble General of the Potomac who, for months was his enemy’s fodder, now lonely and confused, loathing in self-pity, his own plight to ponder.
He longed for a simpler time of straight, narrow rows of corn and tobacco; His Sundays at Christ Church next to his beloved wife, Mary, and his home and fortune not in squalor.
With his script depleted, his troops tired and defeated, the quiet General took a rare and deep breath at Summerseat, a temporary retreat on the Falls of the Delaware.
As he sat on it shores and peered to the sky, with the winter’s wind of Congress stinging at his eyes, he asked his master, ‘How do I ask my troops, who have lived thorough so much blood and toil, to defeat these men; these professional soldiers of foreign tongue and soil’; Only days left before their duty to God and Country must end; At the home of our borough’s namesake, the financier of this fight, the quiet General devised his risky plan;
To turn our fortunes and our country’s plight, he must cross the frozen Delaware and face his enemy on the holiest of nights, A huge debt these dirty, tired and hungry volunteer troops must once again pay; They were pursued and slaughtered North to South and all along the way. He asked his wounded and depleted troops one last time to face this military Jugernaught who relentlessly perused them in just a fortnight. From the shores of the Hudson, through the valley of death across the Red Raritan range; From the stinging heat of the pine barrens, for many at last, their final resting place; They will be asked again to make their final stand and bid their hopes for peace and fight the all Kings men in the City of Trenton the morning of Christmas Day.
One last time the quiet General mustered his troops, the fires smoldering along the frozen shore, and asked them to find the courage for just one more fight before they must leave for home; These men of dirt and steel listened in anguish to hear the plan laid down to them on that cold winter night by their leader.
As is the custom of war, they commandeered the ships and powder, flint and salt peter.
With prayer, hope, gun and axe in hand, our forefathers rowed these rickety boats and cross the Delaware to the other shore with a desperate battle plan; As they approached the first outpost and stared at the frozen gates of hell to face their enemy at bay; Only to find them in slumber from a night of great merriment and gaiety and they cast their fate asunder; Indeed, God heard their prayers and blessed these men for their risk, for at the dawn of first light, the only noise was vast snoring of Hessian troops who partook the night before in mutton, butter rum, porter and drunkenness;
For in the end, the battle lines were drawn and their actions and faith were sealed, not a single colonial soldier was lost and great victory it did indeed yield; General Washington summoned a surgeon to care for his enemy, their leader mortally wounded in this brief skirmish; In his final breath, Colonel Rahl lamented to his colonial doctor, my end in battle to this great general and his plan are fitting; In my eulogy, please show me no pity. As a study of war, a professional soldier as his career, the Colonel knew that, for those in charge who take a calculated risk, who execute with faith, hope and conviction; You are sure to reap the all the rewards that God sends to you for your persistence.
General Washington did go on to lead our Nation to a victory from the cloth of tyranny; For King George tried to instill his will and way on the people of our land without a great victory; On July 4th, 1776 our leaders set on parchment their intent to make this great nation at hand; The architects, the committee of five, understood the sacred words of this preamble they would write and mutually pledge thus placing a bounty of their lives, their fortunes and their honor, and a declaration to our sacred land; A clear and distinct message sent to the World for their intent for the countries future plans. They chose each word carefully to send guidance, hope and faith; To defend, protect and care for our country, it principals; and most of all, its honor.
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