John F. Kennedy: Our Rights Come From God Not the State

Recently Chris Cuomo stated in an interview with Chief Justice (Alabama) Roy Moore that rights do not come from God but from the State. I came across this vital bit of information while reading the preface to "Naval Documents of the American Revolution." It came from a Democrat who served in the early 1960s as President, John F. Kennedy. This Memorium came at the beginning of the first volume, found on page 10 of the following blog. http://www.navalrecords.org/ "Naval Documents of the American Revolution" had some meaning to the Skipper of PT 109.


In Memorium

Having reviewed galley proofs, President Kennedy sent us this
powerful Foreword in anticipation of publication in 1964. Appropriately
he signed it on the 4th of July, a day that to all men
stands for freedom, a day that could have had no meaning in 1776,
or since, without the strength of the unchained sea. Mourned by
the world, he left this life on 22 November 1963 for the vast seas of
infinity, but his words still resound across the great waters that join
and are the hope of free men as long as the United States stays
strong on them :



"The same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears
fought are still at issue around the globe-the belief that
the rights of man come not from the generosity of the
state but from the hand of God.

I "We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that
first revolution . . .
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or
ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure
the survival and the success of liberty.

I "This much we pledge-and more . .
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations
have been granted the role of defending freedom in its
hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this re-
'sponsibility-I welcome it. I do not believe that any of
us would exchange places with any other people or any
other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion
which we bring to this endeavor will light our country
and all who serve it-and the glow from that fire can
truly light the world."

February 2, 1781 Crossing the Yadkin River

On Groundhog Day, February 2, 1781, troops from Maryland and Delaware along with militia from North Carolina, crossed the Yadkin River. The weather in Greensboro NC on February 2, 2015 had a high of 46 and a low of 29 degrees.

River Crossings
Battle of Cowpens Jan. 17
Catawba River Jan. 23
Yadkin River Feb. 2
Dan River Feb. 14

As Peter Marshall and David Manuel related in The Light and the Glory, at the crossing of each river, the Americans could cross just in time before the British arrived and then the British were unable to follow. Rain had been in the area in each instance. Conditions were right when the Americans would attempt a crossing. However due to rains providentially placed and timed when the British tried to cross the Catawba, the Yadkin and the Dan the conditions were not right for the British. Cornwallis eventually got so far away from his supply lines that he stopped pursuing once the Continental Army arrived in Virginia by crossing the Dan.