THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF ORDINARY PATRIOTS
STORY & PHOTOS BY OWEN BARTOSH
I arrived in Washington DC only a month ago… a young man from Waxahachie,
Texas, to take on the nation’s Capital as one of thousands of summer interns. After exploring the city, I arrived at the end of the National Mall and saw him: Abraham Lincoln, one of the most intelligent and capable leaders in the history of the world, staring right back at me. I felt small. Amid marble statues and temples, I reflected on that feeling. How could any regular person measure up to the sacrifices of the men before me? Most everyone I know will never lead troops like Washington, face the decisions of Lincoln, or change the nation like Susan B. Anthony. The truth is, however, in the 250 years since 1776, the fabric
of our nation was held together by the extraordinary power of ordinary patriots.
The Courageous Printer
During the Revolutionary War, Mary Katharine Goddard operated a colonial printing press, masking her identity as “M.K. Goddard” to publish fierce anti-British editorials and pro-revolution pamphlets like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. By January 1777, the Continental Congress needed to distribute the Declaration of Independence around the colonies to inspire revolution, but few printers dared touch such a treasonous document. Mary stepped forward. For the first time, she revealed her full identity, boldly printing “Printed by Mary Katharine Goddard” at the bottom of the page, right below the Founders’ signatures. Knowing the penalty was death, she chose courage over fear. She survived the war and became America’s first female postmaster, a patriot through and through.
The Principled Future-President
In March 1770, British soldiers opened fire on a rowdy crowd in Boston, killing several in an incident known as the Boston Massacre. Angry colonists wanted these soldiers hung, but they had to go to trial first. In a stunning move, future president John Adams took up the defense case for the accused. His neighbors and friends were outraged, political allies turned against him, and it seemed for a time that this trial would be his last. But Adams believed above all else in the right to a fair trial and its importance for a free society. He risked his career as an attorney and future as a politician for a profound and radical adherence to justice, no matter who was on trial. He successfully defended the soldiers, and in doing so, earned the respect of his community as a man of true principle. 27 years later, he became the second president of our great nation.
The Steadfast Rider
On July 2, 1776, Caesar Rodney lay in a Delaware sickbed while a thunderstorm raged outside, resting with confidence in his friends at the Continental Congress as they discussed independence. That rest was shattered when a messenger burst in with urgent news: the Delaware delegation was deadlocked on independence, and without a tie-breaking vote, unanimity would fail and the Declaration would be off the table. Summoning every ounce of strength, Rodney rose and mounted his horse. He rode eighty grueling miles through pouring rain and crashing thunder, arriving in Philadelphia by morning. Soaking wet and caked in mud, he walked into the room and cast the decisive vote for freedom. Two days later, the Declaration was signed.
Patriotism EveryDay
When I remember these ordinary people and their outsized impact on our country, I no longer feel so small. We may never lead armies into battle like George Washington, but we can have the courage to be proud of our nation when so many feel disappointment or despair. We may never face the agonizing decisions of Abraham Lincoln, but we can champion our principles just the same in our workplaces, our communities, and our homes. We may never be called to conquer the wilderness like Lewis and Clark, but we can serve our country by giving our time and effort to our churches, our non-profits, and our neighbors. This is what patriotism looks like. For 250 years, small acts of courage have strengthened our bond and created a place unlike anywhere else on Earth. The tapestry of American history is woven by our individual threads: the choices we make to write our names boldly, to stand firmly for what is right, and to ride with passion through the storm. Every ordinary sacrifice carries extraordinary significance.
That is who we are, and 250 years later, that is who we must strive to be.
