Readers are used to seeing me write news and information about music and sports; but on this historic day I feel the need for a little historic reflection…
Admittedly, I am not feeling particularly patriotic these days. But like most everyone else, I love watching the fireworks and was presented with quite a show on Thursday night courtesy of the Seneca Nation and the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino.
The United States came into being on July 4, 1776 but there had been settlers seeking a new and better life filled with the freedom the King did not allow for over 100 years!
Not one of the original colonies, the Spanish settled in Florida in the 1500’s. What became the city of St. Augustine was first settled in 1565 – making it the oldest city in the United States.
In 1607, a group of colonists came to Jamestown in what is today Virginia; but harsh winter conditions wiped out the colony.
Side note: Thanks to my genealogical interested stepmother, I know that I have ancestors who were at Jamestown from my dad’s side of the family.
the first ancestors on my mother’s side arrived in the “New World” in 1633 in the New York area. (the family has never been traced so I don’t know the lineage).
Then in 1641, ancestor Captain Anthony sailed a boat filled with settlers for the New World and landed safely in Virginia.
I don’t know if Captain Anthony joined the settlers or made future trips.
Ever since those early days, my ancestors have participated in the founding of this nation and has fought in every war.
In school, I hated history because all it we did was memorize laws and dates; but when my stepmother joined the family and I began to learn about my own personal history, history, suddenly things became very interesting. I have learned that we have a family association that sends out newsletters that always have bits of history in them.
The Founding Fathers had some good ideas and plans but those ideas have seemingly been warped over the years with some things taken completely out of context.
The very document we celebrate today expresses that ALL men are created equal; yet administrations appear to be working hard to eliminate those words.
Never before has the words “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it” have never been more true than they are now…