Posted on 07/02/2020 2:25:01 PM PDT by EyesOfTX
[Note: I received this in an email from a friend and great American in Washington, DC today. As we head into the July 4 weekend during this difficult time for our country, it touched me, and I hope it touches you as well.]
INSCRIPTIONS OF A NATION In 1994, my good friend Clint Ensign, Vice President of Sinclair Oil published a small book containing the inscriptions from the major memorials, historic buildings and structures in the nations capitol. He titled it: Inscriptions of a Nation Collected Quotations from Washington Monuments.
It was the culmination of years of effort on his part as he compiled hundreds of quotations and inscriptions from the many memorials and monuments in Washington D.C. during his many trips to Washington on business.
Of the hundreds of buildings, memorials and statues, it is interesting to note that the Washington Monument has no inscriptions, nor does the White House. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial inscriptions are the names of the 58,000 individual men and women who gave their lives in service of their country.
It is easy to take for granted that these great buildings which are just part of my daily routine and landscape as I walk past them every day. Rarely do I stop to reflect on what they represent.
As I have reflected on the events of recent weeks, I took Clints book off the shelf last night and wanted to share a small but fitting sample of the inscriptions of our nation this July 4th.
CONSTITUTION HALL
LET US RAISE A STANDARD TO WHICH THE WISE AND HONEST CAN REPAIR. THE EVENT IS IN THE HANDS OF GOD George Washington
REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARK WHICH THY FATHERS HAVE SET Proverbs 22:28
Library of Congress
THE GROUND OF LIBERTY IS TO BE GAINED BY INCHES. WE MUST BE CONTENTED TO SECURE WHAT WE CAN GET FROM TIME TO TIME AND ETERNALLY PRESS FORWARD FOR WHAT IS YET TO GET. IT TAKES TIME TO PERSUADE MEN TO DO EVEN WHAT IS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. Thomas Jefferson
THE HAPPY UNION OF THESE STATES IS A WONDER, THEIR CONSTITUTION A MIRACLE; THEIR EXAMPLE THE HOPE OF LIBERTY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. James Madison
Supreme Court
A CONSTITUTION IS FRAMED FOR AGES TO COME, AND IT IS DESIGNED TO APPROACH IMMORTALITY AS NEARLY AS HUMAN INSTITUTIONS CAN APPROACH IT, ITS COURSE CANNOT ALWAYS BE TRANQUIL. Cohens v. Virginia, 1821
United States Capitol
THE GREATEST DANGERS TO LIBERTY LURK IN INSIDIOUS ENCROACHMENT BY MEN OF ZEAL, WELL-MEANING BUT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING. Louis D. Brandeis
LET US DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF OUR LAND, CALL FORTH ITS POWERS, BUILD UP ITS INSTITUTIONS, PROMOTE ALL ITS GREAT INTERESTS AND SEE WHETHER WE ALSO IN OUR DAY AND GENERATION MAY NOT PERFORM SOMETHING WORTHY TO BE REMEMBERED. Daniel Webster
HERE SIR, THE PEOPLE GOVERN. Alexander Hamilton
World War II Memorial
THE WARS END TODAY THE GUNS ARE SILENT. A GREAT TRAGEDY HAS ENDED. A GREAT VICTORY HAS BEEN WON. THE SKIES NO LONGER RAIN DEATH THE SEAS BEAR ONLY COMMERCE MEN EVERYWHERE WALK UPRIGHT IN THE SUNLIGHT. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS QUIETLY AT PEACE.
General Douglas MacArthur
Lincoln Memorial
WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE, WITH CHARITY FOR ALL, WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT AS GOD GIVES US TO SEE THE RIGHT, LET US STRIVE TO FINISH THE WORK WE ARE IN, TO BIND UP THE NATIONS WOUNDS, TO CARE FOR HIM WHO SHALL HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND HIS ORPHAN, TO DO ALL WHICH MAY ACHIEVE AND CHERISH A JUST AND LASTING PEACE AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH ALL NATIONS
Arlington Cemetery
WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN Abraham Lincoln
DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI (IT IS SWEET AND FITTING TO DIE FOR ONES COUNTRY) Arlington Memorial Amphitheater
HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD Tomb of the Unknowns
And finally:
Jefferson Memorial
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT. THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS, AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN. WE SOLEMNLY PUBLISH AND DECLARE, THAT THESE COLONIES ARE AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES . AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS DECLARATION, WITH A FIRM RELIANCE ON THE PROTECTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, WE MUTUALLY PLEDGE OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOUR.
May you and your families have a safe Independence Day and may we remind our loved ones that it is a blessing and an honor to be a citizen of this great nation.
That is all.
We have fallen so far...
FYI
Maybe. These days remind me of the 60s & 70s, whose lessons were learned but now seem to be forgotten again.
Not so. the brass cone on its tip is inscribed Laus Deo Latin for Praise God. There is a model of it in the Monuments visitor center.
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