Dear Neighbor,
Just a quick note wishing you and yours a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend.
I hope you take a minute to think about the great freedoms we enjoy, because the price we’ve paid is heavy. One of the greatest sacrifices made by a band of Minnesotans came on July 2 in 1863 as the First Minnesota charged at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The unit bravely charged into a situation where it was greatly outmanned and suffered enormous casualties, but still carried out the order and contributed significantly to preserving the Union’s position on Cemetery Ridge. President Coolidge even is reported as saying the eight companies of the First Minnesota are “entitled to rank as the saviors of their country.”
That is a proud moment in our state’s history and the fate of our nation hinged on the First Minnesota’s ability to save the day.
The signers of our Declaration of Independence also put their lives on the line in the name of liberty. Some were captured by the British as traitors and tortured, others had their homes ransacked and burned, driven into poverty. Even more lived life in fear, on the run with their families in hiding. That part of the story sometimes gets skipped when we talk about our founding fathers.
This all makes you wonder if we, today, would step up to the plate as our forefathers did. It’s something to think about.
In any case, I hope you enjoy this Independence Day. I will be at the parade in St. Joe (10 a.m. start Friday), so maybe we’ll see you there.
Good luck,
Jeff