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Patriots and Patriotism…what are they?

By Contributing Writer on July 13, 2020 • ( 202 )

Written by Brian Massie…conservative hiker

Patriot: a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

Patriotism: devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.

Far too many Americans take the freedoms they enjoy for granted. Too many of the younger generations know nothing about the Bill of Rights, nor the first amendment detailing our basic rights as citizens. It prohibits any laws that impede the free exercise of religion, abridge the freedom of speech, infringe upon the freedom of the press, interfere with the right to peaceably assemble, or prevents citizens from petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

The freedom to bear arms given in the second amendment is slowly, but surely being stripped from us. Sadly, we are seeing, almost daily on television, examples of those rights starting to crumble at all levels of government.

The communists within our public school and university systems have indoctrinated several generations of malleable youngsters to actually hate our country. The communists have used the same tactics as Castro, Lenin, Stalin, et al, to try to divide and conquer our nation from within. The Marxist philosophy of destroying the nuclear family and morality, coupled with the evil abortion on demand, has put our great country on life support.

Who is to blame? We are all culpable. From the globalist that wants the new world order with the United Nations in control, to the apathetic Americans that believe they do not need to be involved in the voting process. Many citizens that are playing the “back nine of life” have enjoyed the freedoms passed on from their parents’ and grandparents’ generation, but have forgotten Ronald Reagan’s famous line in his January 5, 1967 inaugural speech:

“Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”

It is difficult to believe that ALL Democrats want to see this nation “burn to the ground” only to rebuild it in the socialist / communist image of Venezuela, China, Russia, or Cuba. However, it is obvious that the communist wing of their party is in control. What is really shocking is the abject timidity of the Republicans and church leaders not speaking out to defend our country and our freedoms!

Allow me to introduce you to a patriot. Someone very few have even heard about. Someone that died at a very young age, and was just an average citizen that hardly had a chance to make his mark in the world. However, his words will live forever.

While on a hike at Lake Metroparks’ Indian Point in Leroy Township, we found this Memorial plaque to George E. Stevens (1899 – 1918). I was struck with the age of this young man, and the patriotism that exuded from his poem that he wrote while guarding his post.

I did a little research and found this information about George:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27443695/george-e-stevens

“George was born in Euclid, Ohio where he attended the local schools. He attended Shaw Academy, where at the age of 17 he and some of his friends decided to join the National Guard in 1917. He served in Company 3F Infantry as a private, being promoted to Corporal in September, then promoted to Sergeant in March, 1918. He was a member of the American Expeditionary Forces. According to his military records “On the night of July 29, 1918 when his company had been halted during the advance by murderous fire from the enemy, he did fearlessly attack a machine gun nest and in exposing himself, he met his death.”

“In the book “A History of the City of Euclid” by John Williams, a poem written by George Stevens is included which the author shows his true love of country. It was written while he was on guard duty in France:”

“As I walk my post at midnight,
Trying to do things right,
Thoughts of home and friends come to me
As wearily drags the night.
Thoughts of Mother and Father,
And of all my kith and kin,
And then of Friends whose friendship
I’ve been lucky enough to win.
And I long to be back with the home
Who are always so dear to me,
And my throat it just seems to choke,
And my eyes, well, it’s hard to see.
But when I feel the saddest,
And my spirit seems to lag,
All I need for consolation
Is one good look at our flag.
And then with redoubled strength
Because of the thoughts I’ve had,
Comes back the joy of my spirit,
And once again I’m glad.
For when I think of our Country,
And our fathers of long ago,
Why, even our lives can little repay
The smallest debt we owe.”