AMERICAN PATRIOT
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FULLSCREEN CLICK ABOVE
THANKSGIVING MYTHS REMEMBER THE ALAMO TIPS ON
COLLECTING AMERICANA NOVEMBER 26, 2009
AMERICAN PATRIOT
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TIPS ON
COLLECTING AMERICANA REMEMBER THE ALAMO
6 THANKSGIVING MYTHS
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COMMUNITY BUILDING
Contents GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
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15 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
PURPLE HEART COMES 65 YEARS LATE
TIPS ON
COLLECTING AMERICANA In recent years, objects and art related to our nation’s history have become highly sought after by people trying to capture a piece of their heritage. As with any collectible, some examples are viewed as more desirable than others and consequently garner a higher price tag. But if you know what to look for “telling the treasures from the trash” will become a very simple process. BELOW ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST AMERICAN COLLECTIBLES:
Quilts HISTORY Quilts were more than just utilitarian objects used for warmth. Throughout the 18th and 19th century women created them to mark special events in the lives of families such as weddings and births. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Condition, size, quality of stitching, and pattern all effect the value of a quilt with pictorial quilts featuring vignettes of family life or patriotic acts at the top of every collector’s list. The most valuable quilts are Baltimore Album quilts but good luck finding one. Only 300 of these quilts, with intricately embroidered blocks displaying scenes of early American life, were created. Crazy quilts are also sought after by collectors. These are constructed of irregularly shaped fabrics and were very popular in the mid-1800’s. VALUE Anywhere from $400 for a fine example of a crazy quilt to $2,000 for a pictoral quilt. At the high end, Baltimore Album quilts are worth $20,000-$100,000.
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HISTORY: The first attempts at branding in America, trade signs hung outside stores and restaurants to add a special personality to the establishment and separate them from the competition. The signs first gained popularity in the 18th century and obviously never went out of style.
Trade Signs
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The older the sign the higher the value is a rule when it comes trade signs value. The oldest signs are made out of wood, double sided, and are not graphically complex. Often these signs will simply display the name of the establishment and a date. Of special interest are signs for shops that have become outmoded such as taverns, blacksmiths, tinsmiths and cobblers. But don’t discount later examples. While not worth as much, mid-19th century signs with bold graphics can fetch a pretty penny too. VALUE: Anywhere from $300 for a cheeky 1950’s sign to $200,000 for a very early tavern signage. HISTORY: From Colonial times to the mid-1900’s stoneware crocks were used by farmers to transport their fresh crops to the marketplace.
Stoneware Crocks
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Maker’s marks usually add the most value to a collectible. In this case, Red Wing is the top of the line. These crocks can easily be differentiated from the rest by a red wing marking on the vessel. Norton and John Bell are also popular names in crocks. If a crock does not have a maker’s mark, the next best thing is a vibrant color or pattern. Cobalt blue designs fetch the highest price in this category. This is not to say that plain brown or beige crocks without markings are worthless, just that the value is greatly decreased. VALUE: Anywhere form $10 for a plain unmarked crock to $750 for a finely decorated Red Wing. HISTORY: America invented the campaign button. It’s roots can be traced all the way to medals handed out during Andrew Jackson’s campaign in 1824.
Political Campaign Buttons
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Popularity does not equal value when it comes to campaign pins. Scarcity is key. The number of pins that were created and held onto directly effects the pricing. Often it is the losing candidates whose buttons see the greatest increase in value. So it’s a good rule of thumb that if you never heard of him it’s probably worth something. Another indicator of value is the quality of the button, pins made out of bronze and silk bring are obviously more rare than plastic and metal. VALUE: Prices are all over the map and there is constant fluctuation. For instance, Joe Biden’s buttons from his first political campaign are now selling for $50 when they were only selling for $2 before his election to the Vice Presidency.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POLITICAL BUTTONS + MEMORABILIA IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AMERICAN PATRIOT 5
Thought you knew all about Thanksgiving? It is one of the most beloved of American holidays, built on a spirit of gratitude, generosity and a celebration of our luck and abundance. Not to mention lots of turkey and football. All true and all deeply important. It turns out, though, that there are some beliefs about Thanksgiving that need some correction. Read on, and we hope this doesn’t cause you any indigestion. Pictured Above: THE FIRST THANKSGIVING AT PLYMOUTH (1914),
By Jennie A. Brownscombe 6 AMERICAN PATRIOT
SITTING DOWN TO THANKSGIVING . . . BEAR? MYTH 1 Plymouth Colony Was The Site of The First Thanksgiving Whether this Thanksgiving myth is true depends what you consider a Thanksgiving. The first celebration in what would become the U.S. took place in southern Texas in 1598, when conquistador Juan De Onate arrived at the Rio Grande after a perilous journey. On the Atlantic coast, Berkeley Plantation on the James River claimed a Thanksgiving Day in 1619, two years before the Pilgrims and first Thanksgiving in 1621. So, the Pilgrim’s Plymouth Colony event was likely the third Thanksgiving.
MYTH 2 Thanksgiving Originated as a Religious Holiday Not really. Most countries have a religious basis for the national day of thanks, but not the American version. Its origin and tradition is as a fall harvest festival. Think about it: the Pilgrims would never have invited the Native Americans (who they considered heathens) to a religious observance.
MYTH 3 The Turkey-and-Cranberry Sauce Tradition Started with the Pilgrims Not likely. While the early English settlers were familiar with turkey, they hadn't been exposed to cranberries by that point. In addition, they had no corn, potatoes, yams, or most other foods we associate with Thanksgiving. What they did have was deer, and we know they ate that. Very possibly bear, as well. Our traditional meal of turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce is not representative of the settlers’ Thanksgiving feast. In fact, it is traditional because it's what the Victorians in England enjoyed on their holiday.
MYTH 4 We've Celebrated Thanksgiving Every Year Since the First One Wrong, again. Once again, you have to decide which one was first one and, in any case, not every year has seen a Thanksgiving as such. Even if you accept the official date as the 1621 Pilgrim feast, the Pilgrims didn't have another Thanksgiving until 1623, when they celebrated the end of a drought. Thanksgiving wasn't even a widespread American holiday outside of New England until President Lincoln proclaimed it such in 1863. Congress didn’t even make it official until 1939. WATCH A HISTORY CHANNEL VIDEO ON THE ORIGINS OF THANKSGIVING AMERICAN PATRIOT 7
PLANNING A TRIP?
REMEMBER THE ALAMO PICTURED ABOVE: The Fall of the Alamo (1903) by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, depicts Davy Crockett wielding his rifle as a club against Mexican troops who have breached the walls of the mission. 8 AMERICAN PATRIOT
A big city with a small town feel, San Antonio enjoys a friendly reputation and year-round sunny weather. For American Patriot readers, the main attraction of this Texas city is the Alamo. With more than 2.5 million visitors annually, this is the most important historical site in the city, arguably in all of the Lone Star State. The Alamo became well-known during the Texas Revolution and dates back to 1718 when it was first built as a mission. The Battle of Alamo in 1836 made it forever famous, even though the fight itself lasted only 13 days. Under attack from an overwhelming Mexican force of 4,000 led by their President Santa Anna, a small group of 182 Texans — which included such iconic names as Davy Crockett, James Bowie and William Travis — chose to fight to the death for the cause of liberty rather than surrender. Death eventually came, but the legendary battle cry of “Remember the Alamo” still inspires free people everywhere and the Alamo is seen as the place where Texas independence was born. While the Alamo is the focus of a visit to the city, other appealing and historic sites to see in San Antonio include The Riverwalk, three miles of paths built from stone lining the Rio Grande and filled with attractions, dining and nightlife; La Villita, which offers authentic arts and crafts in the historic downtown area; the King William Historic District, a 25-block radius that opens the doors to the city’s
This plan of the Alamo was created by José Juan Sánchez-Navarro in 1836. Places marked R and V denote Mexican cannon; position S indicates Cos's forces.
past with an architectural tour of that is on the National Register of Historic Places; and Missions National Historic Park, with five historic missions at the historic park dating back to the early 18th century along a 12-mile mission trail. (And for the kids, don’t forget San Antonio Sea World, the San Antonio Zoo and the local Six Flags!) CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE ALAMO AMERICAN PATRIOT 9
BUILDING COMMUNITY From the mountains of New Hampshire to the California coast, parents are swinging hammers and digging postholes to build better places for their children to play. Community-built playground projects, where volunteers instead of professionals install playground equipment, have grown in popularity as schools find they can complete playgrounds for one-half to one-third the cost of having equipment professionally installed. More important, parent groups find that by doing the work themselves they are not just building a playground but building community. In Defiance, Ohio, it took 40 volunteers just one day last summer to construct the $30,000 playground at a new elementary school. The project provided families at the new school, which drew students from three different elementaries, the chance to form relationships and build school spirit. It was the third playground build Principal Eric Spiller had worked on. Chris Meyer, president of Meyer Design, which led the project, compares the community-built playground process to a modern-day barn raising , equal parts work and social event. “There are few opportunities available in our culture to work together in a large group with a common purpose,” Meyer says. “It’s a way to get to know your neighbors.”
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CHECKLIST We've put together a checklist to help you plan your play structure or playground project. In eight steps, you'll create an inviting place for the for the children in your community.
1. Define your objectives
2. Assess your needs
3. Analyze your site
4. Select your equipment
5. Choose your surface
6. Prepare your plan
7. Install your playground
8. Maintain your playground
Community-built playgrounds take time and effort, but with help you can do the construction yourself and save a lot of money.
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FORGOTTEN HERO
America stands today on the shoulders of giants, but all-too-often genuine American heroes are forgotten. Not here at American Patriot. This week we bring back to life, figuratively anyway,
George Rogers Clark, a celebrated and controversial hero of the American Revolution.
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GEORGE ROGERS CLARK Conqueror of the Old Northwest Clark, who was born in 1752 in Virginia, rose to become the highest ranking American military official on the Northwest front during the Revolutionary War. Serving as leader of the Kentucky militia, Clark fought throughout Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, he spearheaded the bold captures of Kaskaskia in 1778 and Vincennes in 1779. Vincennes was especially riveting as it resulted from a surprise winter march and the capture of the British Lieutenant Governor. These defeats served to weaken British influence in the region throughout the war. Since these victories came despite little support from the regular army in men and funds, they became a source of Clark’s reputation as a warrior, and when news of the triumphs reached George Washington, he used them to build morale and to promote the ultimately successful alliance with France. Once the Revolutionary War was won, the British ceded the entire Northwest Territory to the new United States in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. This led Clark to be hailed as “Conqueror of the Old Northwest.” Many historians consider his actions to have been crucial in winning the war and shaping the geography of the new nation. Remarkably, all these victories were achieved before Clark’s 30th birthday. It would be nice to say that the rest of his
Clark's march to Vincennes—the most celebrated event of his career—has been depicted in many paintings, such as this illustration by F. C. Yohn.
life was also triumphant, but that was not true. Late in the war, he failed in an attempt to take Detroit and several other expeditions ended badly. After the war, he led the fight against Native Americans on the frontier, with mixed success and rumors of drunkenness. The remainder of his life was plagued by financial difficulties — in part because the U.S. Congress and Virginia did not recompense him for debts he ran up financing the early military campaigns. Clark did receive a land grant in what is now present day Indiana. Years after his death in 1818, Virginia partially repaid his estate. In 1932, President Calvin Coolidge commissioned a memorial to Clark in Vincennes, Indiana, which includes a statue at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Other memorials now help keep the memory of Clark’s contributions alive in Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. AMERICAN PATRIOT 13
PURPLE HEART COMES 65 YEARS LATE It was about 65 years ago when Vern Arendt fought bravely and was serious injured in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
NOW HE IS FINALLY GETTING RECOGNIZED FOR IT. Here's the story in a nutshell: It was 1945 when Sergeant Vern Arendt was in the Philippines, fighting in one of the most intense and violent battles in World War II, the Battle of Zig Zag Pass. “Zig Zag Pass was bloody, bloody. The gun smoke was heavy fog,” says Arendt. A flame thrower operator, Arendt came face to face with a Japanese soldier who threw a grenade at him. It blew up near his hip and now shrapnel still remains in his body, so much so he sets off metal detectors. Arendt, who came home to Wisconsin to become a successful photojournalist, had great difficulty proving he was injured because his military records were lost in battle and the remainders burned in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. His advocates at the Ozaukee County Veteran's Office tried for nearly two decades to get him recognition, but without proof, they had begun to give 14 AMERICAN PATRIOT
up hope. Instead, Ken Brown of the Veteran’s Office turned to Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin about a year ago. And the rest, as they say, is history, as the Senator was able to convince the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to act. "It turns out he had great difficulty getting the medals that he earned. And we were more than happy to go to work and get it for him,” explains Kohl. "Vern Arendt is indeed an American hero.” Arendt has now received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and nine other medals recognizing his heroic efforts, albeit six decades after he performed them. He says, in the modesty that marks the Greatest Generation: “I didn’t do it for the medals. All I wanted to do is get the war over and get back home.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY ABOUT THIS AMERICAN HERO
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
W ATC H T H E I N A U G U R A L S P E E C H
“It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work — work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it;
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— RONALD
REAGAN
FIRST INAUGURAL SPEECH, JANUARY 1981
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