This Day In History...

Today is the anniversary of an event you probably won't hear mentioned today, but one you surely will remember... even if you didn't know or remember the date.

It was on March 23, 1775, in the House of Burgesses. The debate had turned to the rising movement of Independence from the oppressive King of England. One can imagine that some of the members were indecisive and reluctant to declare a position in what would amount to a war against their homeland.

Finally one member grew impatient with the uncertainty and demanded of his colleagues, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty god! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

Patrick Henry, 236 years ago, today.

Henry's actions matched his words, he left politics to become a Colonel in the 1st Virginia Regiment. Perhaps it was his fiery rhetoric which inspired my own Revolutionary War ancestor to also join a Virginia regiment. Though not Henry's 1st Regiment, my ancestor must have known of the Colonel as they served in General Washington's Army at Valley Forge and beyond.

After the war, Patrick Henry again entered politics and became Virginia's Governor.

I have a special affinity for Patrick Henry's unabashed patriotism. It was with a burst of patriotic fervor that I, 65 years ago, as a seventeen year old private in the United States Army, had the words "Death Before Dishonor" tattooed on my arm.