What America means to me

Founding America's Principles

The era of four centuries ago was marked by colonial expansion into the New World, propelled by the bloody quarrels of monarchies and aristocracies vying for wealth and power. Out of imperial piracy and conquest arose refugees from many nations and walks of life who sought to escape the swelling tide of tyranny. Freedom had found its cause. Most of those courageous souls were not men of rank and status, but tradesmen, craftsmen, farmers, inventors, yet dreamers all. Finding themselves shielded in part by the great Atlantic Ocean from the oppression of their homelands, these noble commoners dared to plant their dream of personal liberty on the eastern shores of America. Though under the shadows of several nations, the people of the American colonies were spirited in a sense all of their own, united in a common purpose and ideals, committing themselves to diligence, justice, charity, faith, personal responsibility and achievement, and above all, the hope of a better world which these principles create. When prevailing powers threatened to extinguish the fledgling dream of freedom, these men took up arms and laid down their lives, offering the "last full measure of devotion" to the American Dream...to the cause of freedom.

Sustaining America's Principles

The ten generations that followed the birth of America bore witness to the rise of the United States from a mere colonial confederation to the greatest nation the world has ever known. After repelling foreign aggression from abroad, and even overcoming her own internal conflict, the young nation of the United States of America became galvanized by her founding principles. American diligence was the forerunner of innovation in the Industrial Revolution, forever changing the world with many inventions still in use today. American ingenuity ushered in the Information Age and so birthed a new era of commerce and education. American justice and equality has provided over two hundred years of peaceful succession of power, during which time it has defended liberty and promoted free democracy across the world. The American courage of the Armed Forces has protected human rights within the United States and throughout the free world. American charity, both on the national and personal level, has continually lead the world in humanitarian efforts, even at the cost of her own sons and daughters. This is the American heritage, the people's inheritance. granted by the wisdom of the founding fathers and the blood of our brave patriots. It is for us to remember and uphold freedom's cause, the the "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."