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Veterans Day 2021
“America has many glories. The last one that she would wish to surrender is the glory of the men who have served her in war. While such devotion lives, the nation is secure. Whatever dangers may threaten from within or without, she can view them calmly. Turning to her veterans, she can say: ‘These are our defenders. They are invincible. In them is our safety.’”
– Calvin Coolidge,
from “America and the War,” 1920*Private T. P. Loughlin of the 69th Regiment, New York National Guard, bidding his family farewell, 1917 (source)
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Stand Firm
“All through life, be sure and put your feet in the right place, and then stand firm.”
– Abraham Lincoln
(recalled by Rebecca R. Pomroy) -
Work
Let me but do my work from day to day,
In field or forest, at the desk or loom,
In roaring market-place or tranquil room;
Let me but find it in my heart to say,
When vagrant wishes beckon me astray,
“This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;
“Of all who live, I am the one by whom
“This work can best be done in the right way.”Then shall I see it not too great, nor small,
To suit my spirit and to prove my powers;
Then shall I cheerful greet the labouring hours,
And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall
At eventide, to play and love and rest,
Because I know for me my work is best.– Henry Van Dyke
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The Basis of Any Government
“In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. . . . No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”
– Noah Webster
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Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist
Edited by Stephen W. Hines (2008)
Laura Ingalls Wilder has become synonymous with the days of American pioneering through her Little House on the Prairie series. But before she even published her first book, Mrs. Wilder was already a popular writer from her contributions to the Missouri Ruralist from 1911-1924. Compiled in one volume, step back into simpler times with Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist: Writings from the Ozarks. Although written to Laura’s fellow farm wives, these essays are sure to delight any reader appreciative of common-sense thoughts on home, life, community, and culture.
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Honesty Is Always Admirable
“Honesty in its widest sense is always admirable. The trite saying that ‘honesty is the best policy’ has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. [This] seems to be true. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.”
– Robert E. Lee
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9/11: Twenty Years Later
Twenty years. In some ways it seems like just yesterday; in other ways, a lifetime ago. Most people remember exactly what they were doing when they first heard the news; I was no exception. A beautiful fall morning soon turned into hours and days riveted to the television, watching and rewatching the horrors unfold. While the foundation of hatred for our country existed long before the attacks, a new reality dawned as we saw history take place before our eyes: there are some who truly despise America and what she stands for, and they are willing to do whatever possible to crush our spirit, if not destroy us completely. With the indelible images of twisted steel and smoldering flames came fear of the unknown, shattered dreams, and diminishing freedoms. But with them also came a new generation of Americans – those flooding recruitment offices on September 12th, ready and determined to take the fight to the enemy, whatever the cost.
So today, we remember: all who perished in the World Trade Centers, at the Pentagon, in a lonely field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and all who have since died, whether from ground zero’s toxic dust or on the field of battle. And we are forever grateful for those with fervent hearts of patriotism and spines of steel who have fought, and continue to fight, for all that we hold dear.
*Firefighters and military personnel unfurl an American flag at the Pentagon, September 12th, 2001 (source)
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Labor Day Address
“On this day – this American holiday – we are celebrating the rights of free laboring men and women.
The preservation of these rights is vitally important now, not only to us who enjoy them – but to the whole future of Christian civilization. . .
These rights were established by our forefathers on the field of battle. They have been defended – at great cost but with great success – on the field of battle, here on our own soil, and in foreign lands, and on all the seas all over the world.
There has never been a moment in our history when Americans were not ready to stand up as free men and fight for their rights.
In times of national emergency, one fact is brought home to us, clearly and decisively – the fact that all of our rights are interdependent.
The right of freedom of worship would mean nothing without freedom of speech. And the rights of free labor as we know them today could not survive without the rights of free enterprise.
That is the indestructible bond that is between us – between all of us Americans: interdependence of interests, privileges, opportunities, responsibilities – interdependence of rights.
That is what unites us – men and women of all sections, of all races, of all faiths, of all occupations, of all political beliefs. That is why we have been able to defy and frustrate the enemies who believed that they could divide us and conquer us from within. . .
American workers, American farmers, American businessmen, American church people – all of us together – have the great responsibility and the great privilege of laboring to build a democratic world on enduring foundations.
May it be said on some future Labor Day by some future President of the United States that we did our work faithfully and well.”
(Full address available here)
– President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
excerpts from his “Labor Day Radio Address”, 1941 -
Luxury
“Luxury, that baneful poison, has unstrung and enfeebled her sons.”
– Abigail Adams,
letter to John Adams, 1779 -
Faith and Good Works
“The Faith you mention has doubtless its use in the World. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavour to lessen it in any Man. But I wish it were more productive of good Works, than I have generally seen it: I mean real good Works, Works of Kindness, Charity, Mercy, and Publick Spirit; not Holiday-keeping, Sermon-Reading or Hearing; performing Church Ceremonies, or making long Prayers, filled with Flatteries and Compliments, despis’d even by wise Men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity. The worship of God is a Duty; the hearing and reading of Sermons may be useful; but, if Men rest in Hearing and Praying, as too many do, it is as if a Tree should Value itself on being water’d and putting forth Leaves, tho’ it never produc’d any Fruit.”
– Benjamin Franklin,
excerpt from letter to Joseph Huey, 1753
