When I speak with our visitors, donors, and colleagues, I frequently hear from them that they are worried that we live in a time of division in our country. And so we do. However division, debate and disagreements over how to best continue the American experiment in a democratic republic, is nothing new, and not necessarily bad.

In May of 1774, in the colonial capital of Virginia, Williamsburg, Lord Dunmore dissolved the House of Burgesses for a second time. The men retired just down the street to the Raleigh Tavern, to the Apollo room to be precise, and engaged in heated discussions about what to do about Lord Dunmore, and King George who, along with the Parliament and Privy Council, had started a large taxing program designed to recuperate some of the cost of the Seven Year’s War, or what was called in the colonies, the French & Indian War. The debate was by all accounts quite animated, and divided even families.

Peyton Randolph and his brother John Randolph, were both politicians, and in the case of John, he was the King’s Attorney for the colony, and the general court. He thought that the colony and the King had to reconcile their differences. His brother Peyton, and even John’s son, Edmund, both sided with the rebellion. When Lord Dunmore fled to Scotland at the outbreak of hostilities, John went with him. There is no good evidence that they ever saw each other again. But I digress.

By the end of that meeting, the majority decided to denounce Britain’s treatment of its colonies, and proposed a meeting – the first Continental Congress – to address “the united interests of America.” This is not so very different from the situation today, only now we have social media and the ability to spread the news much more quickly.

Today, my friends, we are approaching the 250th anniversary of one of the most significant documents ever penned by humankind – the Declaration of Independence. This single document has inspired almost every single freedom movement, in the USA and the world. I want to talk about the promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for a moment. Life and liberty are clear enough, but what did they mean by the pursuit of happiness? It did not mean then what it means today. In the 1700’s that phrase meant the pursuit of Virtue. And virtue is spoken of by virtually all of the founders of our great nation. We would do well to remember that. How do we make the world around us better, and define ourselves as a Country?

We are a leader in the world today, largely by the capabilities of our military might. Just as the 2nd Amendment provides a way to defend all the other rights we enjoy, it is our military men and women and the great sacrifices they make, that allows us to defend our culture, values, and democracy. As Cliff Fleet, CEO of Colonial Williamsburg recently and eloquently stated: “As we consider the aspirations of our forebears, those we have lived up to and those we have yet to meet, I think it is helpful to remind ourselves that more virtue and thoughtfulness in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence can serve us well in times when we feel divided.”

It is both virtuous and thoughtful to remember and appreciate those who have sacrificed to make our country the best the world has ever seen. This is part of our primary mission at the Lomas Center Museum. And you can help continue your right to the pursuit of happiness with your gracious donation. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity, and we only survive when our guests and the general public willingly support us. There are fewer and fewer museums in the USA that are dedicated to military history, and we intend to not only survive, but to thrive in the coming years.

Thank you for your commitment to our museum, and to the American Warriors – past, present, and future – who make our country great. That is something I hope we can all agree with.

Sincerely,

Michael Nelson
Executive Director – Lomas Center Museum