During this week in 1727, a Patriot is born. In later years, some people would think that Artemas Ward was the obvious choice to lead the American army through the long Revolutionary War years—not George Washington!
Can you imagine our nation today if there had never been a General Washington?
Probably not. But what you don’t know is that there might not have been an army to lead in the first place, but for Ward’s contributions during the early weeks of the war.
Ward was a graduate of Harvard College who was popular and respected in his community. He was elected to public offices and fought in the French and Indian War. When tensions rose with England, he was at the forefront of the Patriot cause. The Royal Governor stripped Ward of his command, but Ward reportedly declared that he was “twice honored.” It was “evidence that I am, what he is not, a friend to my country.”
The colonial government in Massachusetts later named Ward a brigadier general. Thus, when the “shot heard ‘round the world” was fired at Lexington and Concord, Ward left to meet the Massachusetts militia outside Boston. Once there, he discovered a problem.
The story continues here:
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Hi, everyone! First, This week's Medal of Honor Monday story can be found here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-charles-murray-moh
Second, I am very sorry, but I am going to be shutting down this account. Honestly, I never really figured out how to get going on this platform. (It's probably user error on my part! LOL.) I am thinking of shutting down one or two other social media accounts also.... I spend a ton of time posting and cross-posting. Just trying to limit it to the most productive sites at this point. I am sorry, though!!!
My stories can always be found here:
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Thank you for understanding. I hope everyone has a great week!
Tara
On this day in 1774, Paul Revere makes a furious ride to warn colonists that the “British are coming!” Okay, so it wasn’t that ride. Revere’s famous midnight ride was still four months in the future. Instead, this little-known ride was made from Boston to New Hampshire—and it was made in the middle of the day.
The clashes in New Hampshire, historian David Hackett Fischer notes, “were truly the first blows of the American Revolution, four months before the battles of Lexington and Concord.”
Relations between Great Britain and her American colonies had been strained for quite a while. But in October 1774, King George III and his ministers made things even worse: They imposed a ban on the exportation of arms and ammunition to North America. They also ordered royal officials to secure the arms that were already in the colonies.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-paul-revere-other-ride
On this day in 1996, a Labrador Retriever is born. That little dog, Salty, would become a guide dog, leading his blind owner from the burning World Trade Center on 9-11.
“Salty will always have a special place in my heart,” said Omar Rivera on the 11th anniversary of those attacks. “To see my family grow, to see my daughters grow, to continue to be together with my family—it’s such a gift. Life is a gift.”
Rivera had been at work early that day. He was on the 71st floor preparing for a meeting when he heard a huge, crashing noise. It was the sound of American Airlines Flight 11 hitting the building 22 floors above him, but he had no way to know that.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-salty-roselle
