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My first Memorial Day (since Appleseed)

Started by Kick-in-the-pants, May 27, 2012, 06:43:05 PM

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Kick-in-the-pants

May 27, 2012, 06:43:05 PM
I feel like there is a need for me to take a moment to share something with you guys...  :pop:

I grew up with my dad taking me to the local gun club, and sometimes out to Friendship Indiana for the muzzle loading shoots / rendezvous.  I even went to some of the NSSA shoots that he participated in.  He was borderline re-inacting and did a few presentations at some schools on the civil war.  I thought I knew my history.  In high school I took an advanced American history / literature class... I really thought I knew my history...

All this time Memorial day was just a 3 day weekend close to the end of the school year... and then I went to an Appleseed... and another... and another.  My grandpa recently bought me the book Patriots, The men who started the American Revolution, and I've enjoyed reading it so far. 

Today in church there was a video that said we should honor the veterans by living our lives to the fullest.   :sb:  I got so mad at that statement that I was tempted to get up and leave...

That's when I think it sunk in... nobody has told them the history of April 19th!  They don't know about the dangerous old men or the story of Mother Batherick and the 6 grenadiers, or about the sons, fathers and grandfathers that died together on Lexington Green. 

Sitting there in my pew at church I was beginning to realize the impact that attending an Appleseed has had on my life!  Now I know what happened on April 19th.  Now I know that the way to honor those veterans who died is to fight!  Fight against those who are trying to erode the freedoms that those fathers, sons and grandfathers died for... as they try to erode the memory of those who made the sacrifice.  I realize now that those who stood up to the British now days would be placed on the TV  screens around the nation, labeled as evil men... and today we look to them as the glorious leaders who separated us from British rule and made our nation a great nation.

But we do not need to fight with powder, ball and shot.  Today we fight with information, history and patriotism.  We fight out fight in the ballot box and when we talk about politics with our family's, friends and co-workers. 

Now I know the rich heritage I have as an American, and I am proud of where our nation got it's start.  I may not like where it's going... but that only serves to encourage me to keep fighting.

God bless America!  (And the Appleseed Project too!)
~KITP

NhLibertas

#1
May 27, 2012, 06:55:02 PM
Eloquently and powerfully said!

Your realization of compassion for the ignorance displayed by them is succinct, we must transmute our anger (which is viable) into a realization that most people haven't been exposed to their heritage. Their ignorance is upsetting, but it is incumbent upon us to use our frustration as an impetus to connect them to to their birthright of liberty.

Keep on fighting the good fight! Behave, and be brave, friends. It's yet a long road ahead.....
"Liberty is not a cruise ship full of pampered passengers. Liberty is a man-of-war, and we are all crew." ~ Kenneth W. Royce

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. – Thomas Jefferson


Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of readiness to die. - G.K. Chesterton

Charles McKinley

#2
May 28, 2012, 05:07:58 PM
Well said KITP,

I have come to realize that by leaving I give up my right to have a say in what goes on.  Instead of walking out, one has to step up: ake on leadership positions, educate the ingorant (ingorance is the lack of information, stupid is the inabilty or lack of wanting to learn and cannot be fixed), vote and let your voice be heard.

It is much easier to walk out.  I did for a long time.  I have decided to dig in and Stand!  It is much easier with the support of like minded people and a plan.

Keep bailing!  The founder gave us the tools for this fight.  Unfortunately the only thing required for evil to succeed is for good peple to do nothing. :-[

We have given you a Republic, IF you can keep it. ~ Ben Franklin
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."  T. Jefferson.
Last evening, it occurred to me that when a defender of Liberty is called home, their load lands upon the shoulders of the defenders left behind. Just as the Founders did their duty for Liberty, every subsequent generation must continue their work lest Liberty perish. As there is no way for the remaining adults to take on the work of those that die, we must pass the ideals and duties on to the children. -PHenery

Dougum

#3
May 30, 2012, 06:45:07 PM
Amazingly said. It seems that you have a gift with words. Is there any way I could talk you into joining the RWVA Applecore. Someone with your passion for the program and what we teach is very much in demand currently. Thank you for your thread and your time spent both writing it and spreading the word to others

Doug
Love your country, but never trust its government.

-- Robert A. Heinlein

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good"

-- George Washington

You say drake I say Brantley gilbert

You say T-Pain I say Jason Aldean

You say Kanye I say randy houser

You say Pink I say Kenny Chesney

You say Pop I scream COUNTRY

You say Justin Bieber I rip your head off

LittleMo

#4
May 30, 2012, 08:17:55 PM
KITP,

Very moving and powerfull! Yes, Appleseed is about marksmanship. Its more about educating and teaching people about our heritage. 237 years ago ordinary people rose up against oppression and fought a long and bloody war to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

By teaching our heritage and how people became involved then, we urge people to become involved and informed now. Today the pen and the vote must be used and used often.

The road ahead, to teach our heritage and motivate people, is a long and demanding one.  Spread the knowledge you have learned!

Gary
Growing old is mandatory; Growing up is optional!  :)

Marksmanship can be taught and learned,
but the motivation has to be inspired for the
people to become involved.
How many have you inspired that became involved?

http://www.facebook.com/NYSAppleseed
http://www.facebook.com/ProjectAppleseedVermont

Barbie

#5
May 30, 2012, 08:25:10 PM
Don't lose that passion for what you believe in... many people these days don't have such a passion for something as important as our heritage/where we came from/where we're going.   

See you on the trail.   :---

~ Barbie
Barbie
(812)-290-4738
barbie_bedel@yahoo.com

Indiana Appleseed:  Farm Bred, Brass Fed

Lord make me fast and accurate. Let my aim be true, and my hands faster than those who would seek to destroy me.  Grant me victory over my foes, and those  that wish to do harm to me and mine. Let not my last thought be if I only had my Gun; and Lord if today is truly the day that you take me home, let me die in a pile of empty brass.

flynbuff

#6
May 30, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
"Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it."
- John Adams


This was THE single most powerful thing that I heard at my first Appleseed.  Can you imagine, John Adams  is speaking directly to every single one of us?  It wasn't a talking point or some crafted piece of partisan rhetoric; he's addressing you and me directly, over two centuries later.  It blew me away and I think it speaks to your situation very nicely. 
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