Weekly Stories

 OF ALL THE STUDIES I’VE DONE, ALL THE HISTORY STORIES I’VE READ ABOUT AMERICA, RECENTLY MY WIFE, BECKY, ASKED ME A QUESTION THAT ABSOLUTELY STUMPED ME – I JUST DREW A BLANK. SHE ASKED ME WHERE OUR COUNTRY GOT ITS NAME, “AMERICA”.

By Jerry Stewart There is this word, “Hero”. It’s used a lot today. Normally when we hear the word, hero, we think of someone doing something so amazing that there are parades and awards presented in his honor.

There are some stories we hear that are just too horrible to comprehend. And when we all heard the news that a suburban housewife in Texas had drowned her five young children, it was beyond any comprehension.

When the War of 1812 started, the British army was still sore from the licking they took in the American Revolution, so they were determined to get even. And one great way was to burn down our capitol city and everything in it.

The year was 1976. It was our country's bicentennial - we had been a free nation for exactly 200 years. It was April 25 and our baseball season was in full swing. That day, one of the many games going on was between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at Dodger Stadium. Playing center field for the Cubs was lefty Rick Monday. According to Rick, this is what happened in the fourth inning. He says, “I was in center field. I don't know if I heard the crowd first or saw the guys first, but two guys ran on the field.” He said, “When people run on the field, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Is it because they had too much to drink? Are they trying to win a bet?” They just don’t know.

A few weeks ago I traveled back to Texas for a wedding. The bride was a long time friend's daughter, and the groom was a fine young man who had just graduated that week before from the West Point Academy. He had as two of his groomsmen two other West Point cadets who had also just graduated. They were now all 2nd Lieutenants in the Army. The night before the wedding, as that blistering hot Texas sun was finally starting to set, we sat outside enjoying a delicious barbecue dinner and some good conversation.

By Jerry Stewart Since those first shots of freedom were fired by just a handful of brave Americans in 1776, almost 2 ½ million soldiers have died or been wounded in war. That’s an astounding figure. So many willing to give so much. But, think about this. In the last 100 years, and during our two world wars, our American soldiers haven’t fought just for our safety and freedom, but for the liberation of those people unable to liberate themselves. Brave American soldiers have fought all around the world and suffered and died for the cause of others.

A Tribute to the New York City Firefighters By Langley City Fire Chief Jim McGregor September 11, 2001 "KEEP ON CLIMBING", SAYS THE CAPTAIN, "UP THROUGH THE SMOKE AND SMELL."

By Jerry Stewart On December 19, 1776, Thomas Paine wrote these famous words, "These
are the times that try men’s souls." The new American was in a terrible conflict. It seemed clear that America
would not, could not, prevail. The task, the battle, was just too much. But it
was a battle worth fighting. Paine went on to say:

By Jerry Stewart It was Abraham Lincoln who said, "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." President Franklin Roosevelt said it this way; "We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression. The second is freedom of every person to worship god in his own way. The third is freedom from want. The fourth is freedom from fear."