Memorial Day's True Meaning

Dear fellow Patriots, Today is Memorial Day. One of the reasons Leah and I started Patriot Week is because the civic calendar, including Memorial Day, has been generally  gutted and stripped of its true meaning. For too many, Memorial Day has become an empty excuse for a barbecue and to start the summer. Memorial Day, however, has very a deep meaning and a very long history, which we all should all try to honor. Although the exact origins are in hot dispute, suffice it to say that many communities across the United States were engaged in memoralizing their Civil War dead during and following  that great and terrible conflict. On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, promulgated General Order No. 11, which was the first official promulgation of Memorial Day. General Order No. 11 provided  that flowers would be placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers on May 30, 1868. (Order No. 11 is below.) In the Order, General Logan reflected he hoped it would become an annual tradition, and it did.  With World War I, that tradition expanded to include all war dead. This day the nation should remember those who, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, gave their "last full measure of devotion" to protect our liberties and freedoms from the Amerian Revolution to the present. It is through their sacrifice that the "last best hope of earth" has survived and prospered. General Logan's Order stated, "Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." Indeed. God bless you, the sacred dead, and America. Very truly yours, Hon. Michael Warren

General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic Headquarters.May 5, 1868

I.  The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.  In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose of other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind of fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers and sailors and marines, who united to suppress the later rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead?  We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance.  All that the consecretaed wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders.  Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverant visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and others hind slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitude - the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander in Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades.  He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order; and lend its friendly aid in bringing it ito the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III.  Department commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.

By Command of:  John A. Logan
                         Commander in Chief

For more, visit Patriot Week and Americas Survival Guide.

The Sacred Fire of Liberty - Our Republic at Risk

"The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." George Washington, First Inaugural Address.

Washington was right then, and right now.  The history of freedom in the world will rise and fall with the success of America.  That's why knowing our Constitution, our history, our foundation for freedom is so critical, and why it is so dangerous that we ignore them all.

To learn about how to combat the crisis, visit www.PatriotWeek.org and www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.

Religious Liberty Means Protecting Everyone's Free Exercise

"We are bound, you, I, and everyone, to make common cause, even with error itself, to maintain the common right of freedom of conscience."  Thomas Jefferson

This idea - that we must all bind together to protect the freedom of all - is something completely unnatural in human affairs.  Generally, we come to the defense (and offense for that matter) of ideas in which we believe - this is especially true in matters of religion.

Yet, we have come to see the attack on the belief system of even the smallest religious minority - no matter how bizarre or wrong we might think those beliefs to be - to be an assault on the religious freedom of all.  This is so because religious liberty protects dissenting views, or it is worth nothing.  And the majority view one day can easily become the oppressed view the next.  More importantly, we have been given free will to choose - and that free will is bequeathed to us by the Creator (or Nature and Nature's Law) - it is inherent in us as human beings.  Attempts to quash religious liberty, therefore, are attempts at destroying human nature and the subversion of our unalienable rights.

The temptation to ignore the religious liberties of others is ever present, which is why we must be ever vigilant.

For more, visit Patriot Week and Americas Survival Guide.

Knowledge & Integrity - The Keys to Liberty

"The preservation of liberty depends upon the intellectual and moral character of the people. As long as knowledge and virtue are diffused generally among the body of a nation, it is impossible they should be enslaved. . . ." John Adams

 As Adams reflected, as a free people, our liberty depends entirely on our people to self-govern.  And to self-govern, we need to understand our Constitution and act with integrity.  Unfortunately, as our institutions have broken down, so has our ability to self-govern and protect our liberty.  Our educational system fails large swaths of our people, large portions of our finance, business, and religious systems are compromised or corrupt, and our political system is dysfunctional.  This bodes very poorly for our liberty.


We need to counter these influences by focusing again on First Things First - our Founding First Principles (the rule of law, unalienable rights, equality, the Social Compact, limited government, and the right to alter or abolish an oppressive government), and acting with integrity.  That is our strength and our salvation.  


Because our institutions are so ill, the people need to make this happen.  That's why grassroots efforts like Patriot Week are so important.  Join us.


For more, visit Patriot Week and America's Survival Guide.

It is for us to save freedom

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address ends with this sobering message:

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from those honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Although sobering, it is also inspirational.  We are the masters of own destiny.  Not the government, not the dark forces of history, but us.  The day we forget that is the day the republic and freedom dies.

For more visit Patriot Week and Americas Survival Guide.

Our Lives, Our Nation

"Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." John Adams.

This sentiment is the true essence of patriotism.  To paraphrase another President, its not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for her.  On the other hand, if we lived in Cuba or Iran, this might be a bit different, but as Americans, we believe in, and are the beneficiaries of the First Principle of the Social Compact.  The Social Compact provides that we give up some rights to the government so that it will protect our unalienable rights, and that we have the right to direct the government through the republican form of government.

This sentiment is all but lost today.  Way too many seem to think that the government exists to feed itself - the government is supposed to be a servant - of all - for the benefit of protecting our unalienable rights.  Look at the GSA scandal - those public "servants" did nothing but abuse their positions.

Time to return to our First Principles and the true purpose of government.  Our obligations to our country include the obligation to set it back on the right course.

To learn more, visit Patriot Week and America's Survival Guide.

Jackie Robinson - Breaking the Barrier in Baseball - 65 Years Ago

Today marks the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.  He was a fine athlete, a strong man of character, and extremely resilient in the face of adversity.  His feat was no small accomplishment back then, and it paved the way for larger changes in our society.

Back then, baseball was THE sport.  Football was just getting started, hockey was very small, and basketball was hardly on the map.  Baseball was the national pastime, and everyone paid special attention to what was happening on the field.

To commemorate the event today, major league players all wore #42 - Robinson's retired number.

This feat helped us move one step closer to the First Principle of Equality (racial) - which is a fundamental premise of American society (often observed more in the breach than in reality) - i.e., that "all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."  That a black man could be superstar on the largest stage knocked down many psychological and other barriers.

I am proud to note that a alum from my law school - the University of Michigan - played an indispensable role in Robinson's milestone.  Branch Rickey, a 1911 graduate, signed Robinson's contract - and pushed for it tirelessly.  Hats off to both men.  

To learn more about our First Principles, visit Patriot Week and America's Survival Guide.