To restore limited government, fiscal responsibility, and accountable representation through citizen activism and education, in order to preserve the Constitution for the United States of America.
At about dawn on the 19th of April in the year 1775 a band of farmers stood their ground against the best army in the world. They were ordered to lay down their weapons and disperse. Heavily outnumbered, their leader, Captain John Parker, ordered them to disperse. As they began to drift away a shot was fired and then a full volley by the British. Eight Americans lay dead and more wounded. This was at a town called Lexington in Massachusetts.
The British marched on to the town of Concord where they had hoped to capture troublemakers Samual Adams and John Hancock as well as confiscate the arms and ammunition they believed were stored there. Word of the early morning's events spread like wildfire and the Minutemen came from far and wide and assembled on a hill just outside of town. The British finished their search, destroyed what they found (most had been moved) and marched on the North Bridge where about 400 farmers waited. Warning shots were fired by the British but the militia held fast. Then the British Regulars fired a volley killing two. Instead of running the farmers fired back. This time the British fled. Back into the town they went, regrouped and then began marching back to Boston. They were fired upon and harassed all the way back, by farmers and citizens who had simply had enough. In the end, the British suffered 73 killed, 174 wounded and 26 missing. The Americans lost 49 killed, 39 wounded and 5 missing. A bunch of farmers had defeated an army looked upon as the best of the best. I cannot imagine what they felt that day. Knowing that they sent the British Regulars back to Boston in defeat, yet also knowing they would be back, stronger and more determined, to punish the farmers who had dared stand up to them.... First blood had been drawn......
In 1836 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a poem entitled "Concord Hymn". At the dedication of the monument at the site of the North Bridge on July 4th, 1837 it was sung as a hymn. The first stanza reads...
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;Here once the embattled farmers stood;and fired the shot heard round the world."
April 19, 2011 will be the 236th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This was the start of the American Revolution, the start of true Liberty and Freedom. The day when the farmers said "enough" and made their stand. In Massachusetts it is known as Patriots' Day, Maine also recognizes it and it is observed by school children statewide in Wisconsin. Why not Indiana? Why not by the Tea Party Groups?
Referring back to Captain John Parker, the head of the militia at Lexington, who said these words as the British Regulars were approaching them on the green:
"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
I say "Let it begin HERE" in Indiana, with the Tea Party. Let's lead the way in getting this date and day put on our calender for Indiana and who knows, maybe the entire country.
What say you, my Patriot Friends? What say you........?
