ALONG  THE  DAN  THIS  DAY

 

 

My  Heart  Glows

With

Anticipation,  appreciation,  &  approbation

 

From the shadows of history

(& my lofty perch)

My Heart Glows

with delight.

I have peered into time & discovered a conclave of praiseworthy citizens.

 Your love of history is evident &

 Esteem for your ancestors is set in stone.

  As a ferry boat rises with the swelling tide,

Your mission to craft an Exhibit memorializing

 The Race to & the Crossing of the Dan, defied the odds.

You have endowed a gift to America –

A Treasure, a Testimony, & a National Trust.

 

Some will assert the birth of this exhibit “is long overdue.”

Others will say, “It is about time.”

 

Not withstanding

 

My  Heart  Glows

As Providence has declared that

You are the chosen ones to envision & complete the Campaign.

My  Heart  radiates

  With appreciation for you.

 

 

My  Heart  thrills

To the rhythm of your great care & consideration of detail

Sympathetic to the hardships surmounted by those

Who raced to cross the river.

 

You have studied my retreat & the race.

You have reflected upon the sacrifices of

Your fellow countrymen who crossed this river as well as those who

Welcomed them with provisions, troops & hope.

 

Consider the Unknown, Nameless Ones who have emulated

Governor Bradford, Penn, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams,

 Washington, Boone, Davies, Davie, Carrington, Henry,

Edwards, Whitefield, Lewis & Clark.

 

 

We are not alone in our quest.  We are

“Surrounded by so great a cloud of Witnesses”  -

The Puritans, the Long Hunters, the Trail Blazers, the Road Builders,

 

We dwell in a veil of craftsmen & educators.

We are members of one body & one mind.

We are Americans.

We are the Blessed ones.

 

We have not so much shaped history as that

The circumstances of time have shaped us.

Our national character abides no less.

History has not made heroes.

History has discovered them.

 

My  Heart  thrills.

 

You are my heroes.

 

 

You have joined me in crafting a singular society

On sacred soil,

On Holy ground where lives have been freely sacrificed

On Virginia land

With the hope that we will know war no more.

Let us “Run the Race with Patience” & Endurance.

 Let us cross the next river.

Rest, if we must,

But never Quit.

 

 

May, last, in a letter to Abigail, John Adams wrote:

On a sultry summer day I was overcome by heat, exhaustion & time.

Victory, which had long eluded me on the Battlefield, unpredictably arrived.

My earthly calling, fulfilled.

On life’s stage I stepped through the curtain of memories

& handed you the lantern to light the path

For yourselves & your children & your grandchildren.

 

My life was not lived in vain.

 

You have not failed me.

You have blessed your countrymen with an enduring gift.

Your legacy is richly deserved & honourable.

 

Along  the  Dan  This  day

My  heart glows with admiration

For each of you -

 

 Douglas, 

Dan,

Barbara,

Ted,

Larry

&

Peggy 

You are authentic examples of a citizenry capable of achieving the remarkable.

I have long admired your passion.

You have come to the altar & made an offering of five challenging years

of Service & Devotion.

I Praise your Purpose, your Skill, & your Tenacity.

I applaud those who have captured the vision, followed your leadership

& helped you Cross the Dan with class & legacy extraordinaire.

 

My  heart  abounds  in  joy!

 

God bless each of you

&

 

GOD  BLESS  AMERICA  -  AGAIN!

 

 

Please join me in an 18^th century cheer!

 

HUZZAH !     HUZZAH !     HUZZAH !

 

Let  us  Sever  the  Ribbon  &  Celebrate