AMERICAN PATRIOT
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JUNE 9, 2010
STATUE OF LIBERTY A GIFT FROM FRANCE
MADE IN AMERICA STORE FIREBOAT HONORS
9/11 FIREFIGHTERS
AMERICAN PATRIOT BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL BREEDS CONFIDENCE
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6 HIGH-TECH FIREBOAT HONORS
9/11 FIREFIGHTERS
THE MADE IN AMERICA STORE
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AMERICA’S FUN FOODS
BOSTON BAKED BEANS EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT REMINDER
AMERICAN PATRIOT
SPOLETO FESTIVAL HONORS CHARLESTON’S COLONIAL ROOTS
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14 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
15 THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL BREEDS CONFIDENCE 4 AMERICAN PATRIOT
The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 early in the Revolutionary War. Sort of. They managed to take the hill back from the Americans who were encamped there to encircle and trap the British in Boston. But despite the final result, the battle was a moral victory and a confidence builder for the young American army since they fought ably and held out for hours against superior numbers and firepower before finally succumbing. Also, for the record, the American’s actually fortified and defended Breed’s Hill, a few hundred yards away from the higher and more famous Bunker Hill; military experts say they the Americans might have prevailed had they dug in at the higher Bunker Hill, more difficult to climb and closer to escape routes. The battle itself began when British General William Howe landed his troops on the Charlestown Peninsula overlooking Boston. Nearly 2,500 Redcoats made a frontal assault on the hill. On the American side, roughly 1,500 armed farmers and storekeepers were trained and inspired by General William Prescott who, during the battle, won enduring fame by declaring, “Don't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the British were within 40 yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, forcing the British to retreat. After reforming his lines, Howe attacked again, with much the same result. For two and a half hours of intense battle, greatly
outnumbered, the Americans held out. Low on ammunition and supplies, when Howe’s men charged the hill for the third time, they reached the top and engaged the Americans in bayonet and hand-to-hand combat. The 700 exhausted defenders had been sent no reinforcements and had no more powder. They fought desperately but could no longer force the British back. Most ran up and over Bunker Hill into the roads that led to escape. When it was all over, nearly 1,000 British were dead, along with 370 colonials. The American hero was clearly William Prescott who planned and commanded the defense with a ragtag citizen army. For British generals William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne the battle was the start of years of frustration trying, and failing, to subdue the Americans. Memorials of the battle abound, including the Bunker Hill monument as part of the Freedom Trail, and the battle has become integral to the legend of how American patriotism can sustain itself against all odds. VISIT THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT
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HIGH-TECH FIREBOAT HONORS
9/11 FIREFIGHTERS 6 AMERICAN PATRIOT
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano commissioned the newest FDNY fireboat, Three Forty Three, in late May at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Earlier in the day, the fireboat led the Parade of Ships up the Hudson River, marking the start of Fleet Week. “Perhaps the greatest tribute we can ever pay to all 343 members who gave their lives on September 11 is to give all FDNY members the most advanced tools and equipment so they have the best possible chance of coming home to their loved ones at the end of each day,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “That’s why it gives me so much pride to help commission this new fireboat into our fleet.” “The Three Forty Three is the most technically advanced fireboat in the world,” said Commissioner Cassano. “The name of this ship will remind each and every person who sees it in action protecting the Port of New York and the surrounding waterways; and every firefighter who operates aboard it, of the supreme sacrifice made by so many of our members on September 11th, ensuring that we never forget.” Upon the completion of training for firefighters from the Marine Division, the Three Forty Three will be assigned to Marine 1 stationed on the Hudson River on the West Side of Manhattan.
The primary mission of the $27-million boat was born nine years ago in fire and terror, when the older FDNY Marine 1 sailed to a burning Trade Center and evacuated hundreds of people. Moreover, after water flow in Manhattan was cut off by the World Trade towers’ collapse, the boat was able to draw water from the Hudson River to continue to fight the fires. Homeland Security funded most the construction of the boat, which is 140 feet long and pumps 50,000 gallons of water per minute. The name of the boat is made from steel from the World Trade Center. A military-designed pressurized air system can protect firefighters from smoke and radiation. The ship will be by December. A sister ship will go into service soon. Florida shipbuilder, Eastern Shipbuilding, executed the plan. “Every man working on the 343 knows it's a special project,” an Eastern official. “They know what this boat means to your city.”
AMERICAN PATRIOT 7
The most dangerous animals in the forest don’t live there.
ONLY YOU CAN PR E VE N T W I L D FIRE S. w w w. s m o k e y b e a r. c o m
THE MADE IN AMERICA STORE 8 AMERICAN PATRIOT
From products to packaging, the only products that can be sold in The Made in America Store are ones made 100% in America. The founder is Mark Andol, and the location is suburban Buffalo. It is not expected to be his only retail outlet: the concept has caught on so fast that Andol is already in franchising discussions and expects to open in all 50 states eventually. The idea grew out of Andol’s bittersweet experiences with his primary business, General Welding & Fabricating, which he began in his father’s garage in 1985. The business expanded to a fairly large multi-facility manufacturing operation before losing a big account to a Chinese competitor and seeing sales drop off in the recession. While closing facilities, laying off workers and reading up on overseas competition, Andol began to see the emotional and economic appeal of a U.S.-centric business. “I feel for the blue-collar worker,” explains Andol. He also gives veterans a 5 percent discount. Outside vendors have to sign a letter of authenticity guaranteeing their items are entirely made in the U.S. While the FTC accepts the phrase “made in America” to mean “virtually all” made in this country, Andol is a purist. So far he’s found plenty to fill the Elma store; toys, food, decorations, clothing, soap, shovels, garbage cans, furniture. There are Cheese Please dog treats made with Wisconsin cheese, All American At Work Union Roast coffee, and American Boy yo-yos. After much research, he was able to find everything from 100 percent American-made picture frames holding decorative pictures in the shop to the hangers holding the T-shirts. He couldn’t find an American-made computer, so a friend spent a month building a computer
tower from scratch using American parts. Finding a monitor proved impossible, so the foreignmade monitor will bear a disclaimer sticker. He had to go vintage for the cash register, which is a giant metal one made here in the 1950s. Even the display shelving and racks are made in America — fabricated at General Welding, which also makes fire pits, grills and other items sold at the store. Andol says that the prices of goods at the Elma store are comparable — sometimes even cheaper — than products from overseas. For example, he points to a can of U.S. grown sliced peaches (emblazoned in red, white and blue with the message, "To survive, a nation must feed itself") fetches $1.49. A can of Del Monte peaches in the same size runs $1.39 at the supermarket. A seven-pack of Wigwam brand crew socks costs two dollars less at his store than they do at a nearby big box sporting goods store. Andol says he also hopes his store will inspire other retails to sell more products made wholly or largely in this country. SEE A LIST OF PRODUCTS SOLD AT THE STORE CLICK TO HEAR AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK ANDOL
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AMERICA’S FUN FOODS
BOSTON BAKED BEANS 10 AMERICAN PATRIOT
July is National Baked Bean Month, celebrating this classic, national comfort food. In fact, baked beans have been popular in North America since before the Pilgrims landed on the eastern shores. Although many people think of Boston as the birthplace of the recipe, according to the National Restaurant Association, the Narragansett, Penobscot, and Iroquois Indians created the first baked bean recipes. The critical ingredient, maple syrup, was discovered by the Iroquois. With its discovery, Native Americans created baked bean meals that featured maple syrup and bear fat. The beans were cooked in earthenware pots that were placed in pits and covered with hot rocks, and stored as well for later meals. Scholars believe the Pilgrims learned how to make baked beans from the Native Americans, although they began substituting molasses and pork fat for the maple syrup and bear fat. This dish was perfect for the Pilgrim household. Pilgrim women were not allowed to cook on Sunday, because of their religious beliefs, and the baked beans could be prepared the night before and kept warm until the next morning. During colonial days, Boston became famous for baked beans, hence the Boston
Baked Beans that we’ve all heard of and the reason the city is nicknamed “Beantown.” Boston had become a major producer of rum. Molasses, the main ingredient for rum, was very plentiful and the recipe for baked beans was altered to include molasses in place of maple syrup. Salt pork was substituted for the bear fat and Boston Baked Beans were born. Ironically for “Beantown,” there are no companies presently making the dish in the city and only a few places that still serve them. Still, the legend lives on: the official state bean of Massachusetts is the baked navy bean (also called pea bean, boston bean, or yankee bean), recognized in 1993 by the state legislature. Today, this American favorite has many variations. When making baked beans, you have the freedom to experiment with different bean varieties, spices and ingredients — among popular versions are Bourbon Baked Beans, Southwestern Baked Beans, Hawaiian Baked Beans and Cowboy Baked Beans — to create a dish that suits your taste. CLICK HERE FOR FOURTH OF JULY BAKED BEANS AND OTHER RECIPES
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SPOLETO FESTIVAL HONORS CHARLESTON’S COLONIAL ROOTS 12 AMERICAN PATRIOT
The 2010 Spoleto Festival, which runs through June 13 in Charleston, features a wide variety of the arts, including music, the visual arts, artist talks, theater, dance and more. A fascinating combination of American colonial and European artistic influences, the 34th annual festival features a replay of “Flora, an Opera,” a an English ballad opera whose 1735 staging in Charleston marked the first opera performance in the American colonies. “Flora’s” venue, the newly renovated Dock Street Theatre, is equally historic — the site was first used for theater as early as 1736. The Dock Street, under construction for nearly three years, is known as Charleston’s most beloved theatrical space. The Spoleto Festival itself is international and cosmopolitan. Founded in 1977 by Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti and American Christopher Keene, Spoleto has developed an international reputation for opera, dance, drama and musical concerts encompassing jazz, classical and other genres. The festival begins each spring/early summer in late May to mid June. Taking its name from the ancient city of Spoleto, Italy in the foothills of the Apennines, the festival is dedicated to promoting the performing arts of theater, classical music, jazz music and dance. Known around the world, the Spoleto Festival draws between 70,000 and 80,000 people each year.
The history of the Spoleto Festival in Charleston dates back to its founding as a sister festival to the Festival dei Due Mondi, which is translates as the “Festival of Two Worlds.” Charleston was selected as the “new world” locale because of its many performing arts venues. Each year at the Spoleto Festival, Charleston theaters and performance spaces host more than 100 performing arts events from artists from around the world-from opera, classical music, dance, jazz to plays from Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. Leading artists who have performed at the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, opera soprano Renée Fleming, plus Joshua Bell, Emanuel Ax and Joanna Simon. CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF 2010 OPENING DAY
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Mr. Gorbachev, open up this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” —PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN In 1987, with the wall as a backdrop, President Reagan asked Mikhail Gorbachev to enter serious arms reduction talks. Challenging the Soviet leader he declared: “There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace… Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace--if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe — if you seek liberalization: come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
SEE EXCERPTS OF REAGAN SPEECH >
14 AMERICAN PATRIOT
THIS WEEK IN
AMERICAN HISTORY
1885. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, arrives in New York City's harbor. On the pedestal was inscribed "The New Colossus," a famous sonnet by American poet Emma Lazarus that welcomed immigrants to the United States with the declaration, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. / I lift my lamp beside the golden door." In 1924, lady Liberty was declared a national monument. AMERICAN PATRIOT 15
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