Easton Freedom Fighters

EFF Logo

The Whole Life Center is excited to announce the creation of our new branch, the Easton Freedom Fighters. This new resource has been established as a training and educational tool. We will continually update, provide access to historical documents, and give insight and education on the founding fathers in regards to the creation of the United States of America, along with the history of Easton, Pennsylvania, and what part Easton played in shaping our nation.

Freedom Facts

Freedom Fact
Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride proclaiming the British are coming. This was a warning to Pastor Jonas Clark who was protecting John Hancock and Samuel Adams in his home because they wanted to kill these two signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Freedom Fact
Thomas Payne proclaimed moral men would want the war to happen in their days rather than in our children and grandchildren. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for their future generations.
Freedom Fact

The Declaration of Independence started to be signed on July 4th. The remaining majority finished on August 2nd . Benjamin Rush wrote to Adams they thought they would go to graves that day. The setting was very serious and the signing done in complete silence. The last signer Eldridge Gerry of MA of small stature and Col. Benjamin Harris of VA a very large guy.

Harris broke the silence and said to Gerry as he was signing. “I shall have a great advantage over you Mr. Gerry when we are hung for what we are now doing. For the size and great weight of my body, I will but be dead in minutes but by the likeness of you, you are going to dance in the air for an hour or more before you are finally dead”.

Freedom Fact
After all the founders signed The Declaration of Independence Ben Franklin said “well we better all hang together or surely we will be hung separately”.
The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, Verse 1+2

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
‘Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, Verse 3+4

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Freedom Fact
George Washington

As his legend began to grow, many people considered the future President George Washington to be bulletproof! But it wasn’t because of something he did in the Revolution; it was from his heroics in a battle 20 years earlier.

During the Battle of Monongahela (1755), (also known as the Battle of Braddock's Field and the Battle of the Wilderness) in what is now Braddock Pennsylvania, 10 miles east of Pittsburge. Washington earned this legend by leading his troops even when all other officers around him had been shot off of their horses. He left that battle with 4 bullet holes in his coat, one in his hat, bullet fragments in his hair, and 2 horses shot out from under him, but he was unscathed.

 

The French were mystified.

The Indian sharpshooters were amazed. Was Washington just lucky, or was he protected by God?

First Landing, Cape Henry Virginia

April 29, 1607

“We do hereby Dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains..."

— Robert Hunt, First Chaplain at Jamestown

Freedom Fact

Ben Franklin proclaimed:

"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech".
Freedom Fact

John Adams - Linked to the abolishment of slavery?

He instilled in his son, John Quincy Adams, a hatred of slavery and the desire to end it. That son would also become President of the U.S. and then serve in Congress for 17 years. He would spend his time fighting to end slavery and would become known as the “hellhound of abolition.”

Just as John Adams passed the torch to John Quincy Adams to fight for freedom of all, then John Quincy Adams would pass the torch to a little known, young Congressman, from Illinois that would 15 years later become President Abraham Lincoln and implement John Quincy Adams’ 3-step plan for ending slavery.

Without the Adams family, there would be no Declaration of Independence… and likely no Emancipation Proclamation.

Washington’s Prayers for the USA
I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field. And finally, that he would most graciously be pleas’d to dispose us all to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation....
Washington's Prayers for the USA
...Almighty Father, if it is thy holy will, that we shall obtain a place and a name among the nations of the earth, grant that we may be enabled to show our gratitude for thy goodness, by our endeavours to fear and obey thee. Bless us with wisdom in our councils, success in battle, and let all our victories be tempered with humanity. Endow also our enemies with enlightened minds, that they may become sensible of their injustice, and willing to restore our liberty and peace. Grant the petition of thy servant for the sake of Him whom thou hast called thy Beloved Son; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Amen.
Freedom Fact

It is a fact of American history that three Founding Father Presidents—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe—died on July 4, the Independence Day anniversary. But was it just a coincidence?

On July 4, 1831, James Monroe, the fifth President, died at the age of 73 at his son-in-law’s home in New York City. Monroe had been ill for some time and newspapers had reported on Monroe’s illness before his passing.

Local and national newspapers were also quick to report after Monroe’s death that they thought his July 4 passing was a “remarkable” coincidence, at the least, since Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had both also died on July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The oddness of the events wasn’t lost on the New York Evening Post in 1831, when the newspaper founded by Alexander Hamilton called it a “coincidence that has no parallel”:  “Three of the four presidents who have left the scene of their usefulness and glory expired on the anniversary of the national birthday, a day which of all others, had it been permitted them to choose [they] would probably had selected for the termination of their careers,” the Post reported on July 5, 1831

Key Freedom Documents

Declaration of Independence

Signers of the Declaration of Independence

US Constitution

Bill of Rights

Washington’s Prayers for the United States of America

Freedoms Foundation Bill of Responsibilities

Three Important Historical Flags

founding-fathers-flag

Founding Fathers Flag – Thirteen Original Colonies -Betsey Ross

Betsy would often tell her children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends of a fateful day, late in May of 1776, when three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross.

Naturally, Betsy Ross already knew George Ross as she had married his nephew. Betsy was also acquainted with the great General Washington. Not only did they both worship at Christ Church in Philadelphia, but Betsy’s pew was next to George and Martha Washington’s pew. Her daughter recalled, “That she was previously well acquainted with Washington, and that he had often been in her house in friendly visits, as well as on business. That she had embroidered ruffles for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and that it was partly owing to his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the flag.”

A History of the Gadsden Flag

The meaning of the Gadsden flag, or Rattlesnake flag, is as a symbol of liberty and freedom from oppression. Like most historic flags, though, the Gadsden flag has a rich history behind its symbolism.

It’s known as the “Gadsden flag” because it was designed by Christopher Gadsden. During the American Revolution, Gadsden served as a brigadier general for the Continental Army. Using scraps of fabric, he designed the Gadsden flag.

Of course, the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me” is a meaningful and important element of the Gadsden flag as well. Rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive animals. They typically won’t attack humans or other large mammals unless threatened. This is similar to the early American colonists who wanted freedom and independence from Great Britain. They didn’t seek aggression, but they defended themselves when the British Army arrived during the American Revolution.

an-appeal-to-heaven-flag

Facts on An Appeal to Heaven Flag

Also Known as the Appeal to Heaven Flag
The Pine Tree flag is also known as an Appeal to Heaven flag. This is a reference to the phrase depicted at the top. As previously mentioned, the Pine Tree flag features the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” at the top. What is the meaning exactly? The phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” means that Americans should seek protection from the Almighty rather than the government.

Designed By Colonel Joseph Reed
The history of this flag is also interesting. The Pine Tree flag was designed by Colonel Joseph Reed. Reed was a Founding Father of the United States. During the American Revolution, he served as a military officer. He also designed several flags around this time, including the First Navy flag and the Pine Tree flag. Reed wrote a letter in 1775 in which proposed a flag with a “white background and a tree in the middle, and the motto ‘An Appeal to Heaven.”

Not the Only Flag That Depicts a Pine Tree
You might be surprised to learn that the Pine Tree flag is not the only historical American flag with a pine tree. Long before it was invented, there was the Massachusetts pine tree flag. The Massachusetts pine tree flag was used by colonists during the 17th century. Colonists would often display it on their properties. Reed’s Pine Tree flag, of course, came after the Massachusetts pine tree flag.

Commissioned Under George Washington’s Authority
It’s a little-known fact that the Pine Tree flag was commissioned under George Washington’s authority. Reed wasn’t just a military officer; he served as Washington’s secretary. While serving as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, Washington authorized Reed to design the Pine Tree flag. Navy vessels throughout the state of Massachusetts displayed the Pine Tree flag as their official maritime ensign.

Symbol of Independence
The Pine Tree flag has become of symbol of independence. The Revolutionary War, of course, was a turning point in our nation’s history. It marked the end of oppressive rule by a foreign government and the beginning of a new, free government led by the people. The Pine Tree flag is a symbol of this independence. Even today, many Americans proudly display it in front of their homes and businesses.

Patriot Academy has a bold mission: to equip and educate a generation of citizen leaders to champion the cause of freedom and truth in every sector of society, as we help restore our Constitutional Republic and the Biblical principles that cause a Nation to thrive.

Constitution Day Presentation for Public School: A recent educational presentation for children, teaching the basics of Constitutional principles.

The Whole Life Center will be co-hosting a course on “Biblical Citizenship“:
Saturday June 22, 2024
St. Luke’s University Health Network Easton Campus
250 South 21st Street
Easton, PA 18042

Registration is required, please use the form below:

    WallBuilders is an organization dedicated to presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built – a foundation which, in recent years, has been seriously attacked and undermined. In accord with what was so accurately stated by George Washington, we believe that “the propitious [favorable] smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained.”