This post isn’t about blame; it’s about education. Below are examples of courage, sacrifice, and faith that shaped our national character. Read them and share your thoughts in the comments—without naming, blaming, or shaming political parties or people—so we can learn together.
Let’s begin with a powerful example from our nation’s early history. From Valley Forge to World War II, ordinary people and leaders relied on resilience and faith to survive hardship. (Thanks to historian Bill Federer. See footnotes.)
Valley Forge: Suffering and Steadfastness
Winter at Valley Forge, 1777. Lacking food and supplies, soldiers died at the rate of twelve per day.
-Over 2,500 froze to death in the bitter cold, or perished from hunger, typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia.
-In addition, hundreds of horses perished in the freezing weather. A Committee from Congress reported on the soldiers:
“Feet and legs froze till they became black, and it was often necessary to amputate them.” Wives and children followed the army, mending clothes, doing laundry, scavenging for food, and caring for the sick…” An estimated 500 women died at Valley Forge.
General George Washington wrote the following on April 21, 1778: “No history … can furnish an instance of an army’s suffering such uncommon hardships as ours has done, and bearing them with the same patience and fortitude —
… To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie on, without shoes, by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provisions
…marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day’s march of the enemy, without a house or hut to cover them… and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled.”
From Valley Forge to Victories: Remarkable Faith
Our country has always allowed freedom of faith. Trust in our Creator was once welcomed, not admonished or erased as seen in recent years. Consider these examples of faith:
President Dwight Eisenhower remarked on February 7, 1954:
“We remember the picture of the Father of our Country, on his knees at Valley Forge seeking divine guidance in the cold gloom of a bitter winter. Thus Washington gained strength to lead to independence a nation dedicated to the belief that each of us is divinely endowed with indestructible rights.”
In 1944, during World War II, General George Patton instructed Chaplain Fr. James O’Neill to tell the Third Army’s 486 chaplains of 32 denominations, and all officers and soldiers in over 20 divisions to:
“Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle … Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace.”
Patton himself wrote: “We can and will win, God helping … Give us the victory, Lord.”
General Omar Bradley, speaking of Gen. Patton stated: “He was profane, but he was also reverent. He strutted imperiously as a commander, but knelt humbly before his God. ”
Identifying Practical Applications
How did public expressions of faith shape leadership and morale in the above highlights? How can we build resilience, faith, and service today in ourselves, our homes, communities, and nation?
History shows that resilience, faith, and service sustained people in their darkest hours. What is one concrete step you could take, or encourage others to take, that would strengthen community resilience today?
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
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