American Patriot 18

AMERICAN PATRIOT

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FULLSCREEN MARCH 11, 2010

WRIGLEY FIELD AMERICA’S CLASSIC BALLPARK

P.T. BARNUM THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH STANDING UP FOR

DISABLED VETS

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AMERICAN PATRIOT WRIGLEY FIELD AMERICA’S CLASSIC BALLPARK

4 6 8

P.T. BARNUM THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH

ST. PATRICK’S DAY THE WEARING OF THE GREEN

10 US MINT STANDS UP FOR

DISABLED VETS

12 KENNY ROGERS THE FIRST 50 YEARS

14 FAJITAS TRUE TEX-MEX

16 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

17 THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY

WRIGLEY FIELD AMERICA’S CLASSIC BALLPARK

4 AMERICAN PATRIOT

Iowa may be the location of the fantasy Field of Dreams, but for many the real thing is Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Built in 1912, it stands as the second oldest baseball stadium in the Major Leagues after Boston's Fenway Park. In 1916, the first National League game featuring the Cubs was played. The Wrigley’s of gum dynasty fame bought the team and park in 1920 and renamed it in honor of owner William Wrigley, Jr. Wrigley Field remains one of the most beautiful

moments occurred at Wrigley Field, including

of settings, situated in urban Chicago IL on the

Ernie Banks’ 500th homerun in 1970, Babe

corner of Clark and Addison Streets within eye-

Ruth's “called shot” in the 1932 World Series,

sight of the Lake Shore Drive skyline. It is also

Pete Rose tying of Ty Cobb's record 4,191 hits

among the most traditional: Ivy covered brick

in baseball history in 1985, and Sammy Sosa's

walls, a manually operated scoreboard, and

three amazing 60-or-more homerun seasons.

flags denoting “wins” and “losses” hung from

Surprisingly, Wrigley Field has also hosted

the left field foul pole after every game. The field

more professional football games than any

remains largely free of advertising, and was the

other stadium in America, though the Chicago

home of the first permanent concession stands

Bears now play at Soldier’s Field.

and the last holdout before allowing night baseball, in 1988. The cozy setting has led the

Today, after many alterations and renovations,

stadium to be described by sportswriters as

Wrigley has grown in seating capacity from

“The Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field.

14,000 to 41,118 customers. In a charming tradition, hundreds more watch from the apart-

Cubs baseball games attract people who not

ment building rooftops outside the park. Around

only love the ballpark but love to cheer for the

the block are many bars, restaurants and base-

underdog. The beloved Cubbies are, in the big

ball memorabilia shops; the economic hub

picture, an exercise in futility. They have not won

fringes a dense residential area and is an inte-

a World Series since 1908 — 112 years! —

gral part of the neighborhood and feel of the

and have been shut out of the World Series since

games. Wrigley is filled to near capacity on a

1945. However, no major league team has con-

daily basis as baseball fans come to see the

tinuously represented the same city longer than

“The Friendly Confines.” Tours are also avail-

the Cubs and their predecessors, who date

able, and provide an insider's look at nearly a

back to 1870. Many of baseball’s great historic

century of history in the legendary ballpark.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIRTUAL TOUR OF WRIGLEY FIELD

AMERICAN PATRIOT 5

P.T. BARNUM THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH To understand the history of the circus and the spectacle in America — and the venerable Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus — you must begin with the showman of showmen, P.T. Barnum.

6 AMERICAN PATRIOT

Born in Bethel CT, Phineas T. Barnum started as a small businessman and founder of a weekly newspaper in nearby Danbury. Frustrated by small town life, increasingly skilled at public relations and with a hankering to be in the spotlight, he moved to New York City in 1834 and embarked on an entertainment career. His first major success was a variety troupe called “Barnum’s Grand Scientific and Musical Theater,” which featured a disabled African American woman who, her sponsors claimed, was 160 years old and had been the infant George Washington’s nurse. (A subsequent autopsy proved her to be 80 years old.) Barnum’s find was a sensation.

Next, Barnum purchased the struggling Scudder's American Museum, a collection of curiosities, which he turned into the most famous showplace of the era. The public could see educated dogs and fleas, automatons, jugglers, ventriloquists, living statues, albinos, fat men and bearded women, singing and dancing acts, models of Paris and Jerusalem, dioramas of the Creation and the Deluge, glassblowing, knitting machines, war dance, Siamese twins, flower and bird shows, whales, mermaids, melodramas, menageries of rare animals and more. Altogether, the museum showed over 600,000 exhibits during its existence. It made Barnum a national name.

Two of his greatest successes in this period were: General Tom Thumb, a 25 inch tall and 15 pound man whose real name was Charles S. Stratton; and Jenny Lind, the most famous singer of her time, a Swede whom he introduced to the American public with a national tour.

In 1854, Barnum published his autobiography and retired. After going bankrupt, however, the volatile Barnum resurfaced in 1871 with a circus.

Soon it was the largest in America. By 1874, he expanded his “P.T. Barnum’s Traveling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth” to a size covering five acres. It filled 10,000 seats at what was New York’s original Madison Square Garden. Along with a young partner, James A. Bailey, the three-ring extravaganza he created was to become an American institution. His last great coup was the 1881 purchase from the London Zoo of the largest elephant in captivity, Jumbo.

In 1891, the indefatigable Barnum began to fail.

As a final stunt, a few weeks before his death, Barnum gave permission to the Evening Sun to print his obituary, so that he might read it. After his death, Bailey purchased the circus, successfully toured in the U.S. and Europe, and then, in 1902, merged with competitor Ringling Brothers to create the combined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Its slogan is still “The Greatest Show On Earth.”

LEARN MORN ABOUT THE CIRCUS’ HISTORY AND PLAN YOUR NEXT VISIT HERE AMERICAN PATRIOT 7

ST. PATRICK’S DAY THE WEARING OF THE GREEN

8 AMERICAN PATRIOT

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday commemorating the death, as legend has it, of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. More to our point, it is observed in America on March 17 each year with parades that celebrate the success and heritage of the Irish in America.

Among the most well-known are: the New York City parade which dates to 1762; the Boston parade which may date as far back as 1732; and one in Savannah, GA parade, which was first held in 1824.

The parade is inexorably linked to the growth of

parades became transformed into a show of

the Irish-American community in America, and

strength for Irish Americans. In 1948, President

to the pride they feel about their contribution

Truman attended the New York parade, a stun-

to our society. There were a handful of Irish im-

ning moment for the many Irish whose ancestors

migrants to America during the Colonial and

had to fight stereotypes and prejudice.

Revolutionary War generations. Then, in the 1840s, their presence dramatically increased.

Today, St. Patrick’s Day — and the “Wearing

This was largely due to Ireland's potato famine

of the Green” to acknowledge years of Irish

of 1845-49, which prompted a wave of immi-

suffering and to denote Irish pride — is widely

gration. Truth be told, most of the Irish who came

embraced in America. The New York City event

to the U.S. during this period arrived poor and

is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the

uneducated. They encountered ethnic and eco-

largest in the United States, with over 150,000

nomic discrimination, and the longstanding prej-

participants. Upwards of 100 cities now hold

udice of many members of the English Protestant

parades of their own. And although North

majority toward both the Irish and Catholicism.

America is home to the largest productions, St.

Even menial jobs were hard to find.

Patrick's Day is celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and

Suffice it to say that the new immigrants learned

Russia. One especially unique way to celebrate

to harness their large numbers, to organize

St. Patrick’s Day takes place in Chicago. There,

through social and fraternal groups, and found

the Chicago River is dyed green each year.

great success economically and, especially, by

Once dyed green for a week, today, in order to

controlling political and governmental positions.

minimize environmental damage, only forty

By 1900, living conditions had improved and

pounds of dye are used, making the river green

institutionalized discrimination had waned for

for only several hours.

the majority of Irish Americans. Their contribution to American culture, education, politics, science and business during the 20th century is immeasurable. The annual St. Patrick’s Day

CLICK HERE TO HEAR A PERFORMANCE OF THE FOLK SONG, THE WEARING OF THE GREEN AMERICAN PATRIOT 9

US MINT STANDS UP FOR

DISABLED VETS The United States Mint is currently issuing silver one-dollar coins to honor disabled American veterans. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the United States Mint to mint 350,000 such coins. Surcharges earned by sale of the coins are helping to fund the planned American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial in Washington DC.

10 AMERICAN PATRIOT

The coin’s obverse (heads side) was designed

of the Memorial. The Memorial will be the

and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-

first in the capital area dedicated to living

Engraver Don Everhart. The design features

disabled veterans across all service branches

the legs and boots of three disabled veterans,

and all areas of conflict. Commanding an

which pays tribute to the service and sacri-

impressive two-acre site between Washington

fice of our disabled veterans. The inscription

Avenue SW, C Street SW and Second Street

“They Stood Up For Us” is in the banner

SW, the memorial will be within full view of

along the coin’s upper rim. Additional in-

the U.S. Capitol, adjacent to the National

scriptions on the obverse are “In Good We

Mall, and across from Independence Avenue

Trust, 2010” and “Liberty.”

and the United States Botanic Garden. The monument was sponsored in 2000 by Sen-

The coin’s reverse (tails side) is the work of

ator John McCain, former Senator Max Cle-

the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program Master

land, and Representatives Sam Jonson and

Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by

the late John Murtha. President Bill Clinton

Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna. Here, the

signed it into law soon thereafter.

design depicts a forget-me-not flower at the base of a wreath wrapped in a ribbon that cra-

An introductory coin sales period, in which

dles and supports clusters of oak branches.

special pricing for proof and uncirculated

The oak branches represent strength, while

versions of the coin, ends on March 29. After

the forget-me-not is a widely accepted sym-

that, regular pricing will be in effect. Available

bol of remembrance for those who sacrificed

options include proof and uncirculated ver-

their lives for our country. The inscriptions

sions of the coin, struck in 90 percent silver.

include “Take This Moment To Honor our Disabled Defenders of Freedom.”

As noted above, surcharges from the sale will go directly to the Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation, the organization raising the private funds for the construction

Coins can be purchased at www.usmint.gov/ catalog or 1-800-USA-MINT.

SEE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MEMORIAL’S NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON GARY SINISE

AMERICAN PATRIOT 11

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KENNY ROGERS THE FIRST 50 YEARS 12 AMERICAN PATRIOT

An icon of American country music, Kenny Rogers will be performing at the event of his lifetime this spring. “Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years” will tape on April 10 at the MGM Grand At Foxwoods as a television special capturing his musical legacy. Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Wynonna and The Oak Ridge Boys are just some of the names slated to appear. These musicians will be part of the performance, and a few will host different segments of the show travelling through Roger’s six decades of hits.

Born in 1938, Rogers, like many country

About.com poll of “The 200 Most Influen-

superstars, came from humble roots. Born

tial Country Albums Ever.” He was voted

in Houston, TX, he and his seven siblings

the “Favorite Singer of All-Time” in a poll of

were raised in one of the poorest sections of

USA Today and People magazine readers.

town. He got high school playing guitar and

His duet with Dolly Parton, “Islands In The

fiddle. As a senior, he played in a rockabilly

Stream,” is the #1-selling duet of all time. His

band, then after graduation struggled through

extensive history of success includes 20

the 1960s with multiple bands. This included

platinum, 27 gold records and a Diamond-

brief but promising success with the New

certified Greatest Hits album. Rogers has

Christy Minstrels and Kenny Rogers & The

won three Grammy Awards, five Country Music

First Edition. Though he had a couple of big

Association Awards, 18 American Music

hits, by 1974 Rogers was severely in debt. It

Awards, eight Academy of Country Music

was then that he developed a more accessi-

Awards, and 11 People’s Choice Awards.

ble, radio-ready style that rocketed his career.

Along the way, Rogers is a regular at charity The rest is history. Rogers has charted more

concerts, and his restaurant chain regularly

than 70 hit singles, topping the country and

sponsors charity and community events.

pop album charts for more than 423 individual weeks in the U.S. alone. Rogers is one of a handful of artists to sell over 125 million albums. Two of his albums, “The Gambler” and “Kenny,” are featured in the

CLICK HERE TO HEAR ROGERS PERFORMS HIS SIGNATURE HIT, THE GAMBLER

FAJITAS TRUE TEX-MEX

14 AMERICAN PATRIOT

Texans would like to lay claim to the fajita, but history gives credit to Mexican ranch workers living in West Texas in the late 1930s or early 1940s. When a steer was butchered, the workers were given the least desirable parts to eat as part of their wages, often the tough cut of beef known as skirt steak. In Spanish, fajita is a form of the word faja which translates to “belt” in English.

The fajita is classic Tex-Mex food, a mix of Texas cowboy and Mexican panchero foods. Considering the limited number of skirts per carcass and the fact the meat wasn’t available commercially, the fajita tradition remained regional and relatively obscure for many years.

Today, the term fajita has strayed from its original meaning, and now describes just about anything that is cooked and served rolled up in a soft flour tortilla.

This includes chicken, pork, shrimp and all cuts of beef. These days it is often cooked with onions and peppers, and served with condiments such as shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese and tomato.

Historians who study such things credit Sonny Falcon, an Austin area restauranteur, who operated the first commercial fajita stand in Kyle TX and at rodeos and fairs. Dubbed “The Fajita King,” he actually trademarked that name and his food

became popular in the Houston, San Antonio and Austin areas. From there, the dish exploded, to the point where Mexican food restaurants nationwide have adapted the dish, and even McDonald’s has fajitas on their menu from time to time. Not just a cheap and regional food anymore, restaurants worldwide now serve it up and people everywhere are familiar with the site of fajita meat being brought to the table sizzling loudly on a metal platter or skillet, with tortillas and condiments served on the side.

CLICK HERE FOR 1000 FAJITA RECIPES AMERICAN PATRIOT 15

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If the Government is big enough to give you everything you want, it is big enough to take away everything you have."

— GERALD FORD 38TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ONLY PRESIDENT ELECTED TO NEITHER THE PRESIDENCY OF VICE PRESIDENCY. HE WAS APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT BY RICHARD NIXON AFTER SPIRO AGNEW RESIGNED.

16 AMERICAN PATRIOT

THIS WEEK IN

AMERICAN HISTORY

1933.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal programs kicked off this week in an effort to fight the Great Depression.

AMERICAN PATRIOT 17

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