[ Brian -
Here's my first swing at the script. Let me know what you like / don't like and if you'd prefer me to put it on plain document for printing and reading / recording.
I appreciate you offering to perform this week's (the week Apr. 12-18) Be a Stud Citizen Message. I decided to go with another famous Bostonian and moment that leads into Patriots Day - the Midnight Ride of brave, colonial Bostonian Paul Revere. It has more flow as a story/script than recounting what happened during the Battles of Lexington and Concord (Patriots Day). Let's have some fun with it.
I'd recommend using a laptop to scroll through this page/script while you read/record on your iPhone using the 'Voice Memo' or another audio recording app. You can ignore any words in [ brackets ]. When your recording is done, iMessage or email it to me ([email protected]) and I will turn it into a short audio file / podcast available on our website, app, and podcasting platforms. Thanks for helping Flag Steward to fulfill its mission to: Build Better (more Informed, Inspired, Respectful) Student Citizens.
In God We Trust, -Sean
P.S. If you want to break up the script and have another Bostonian, like Mike O'Malley, do part of it, then go for it. ;) ]
Here's my first swing at the script. Let me know what you like / don't like and if you'd prefer me to put it on plain document for printing and reading / recording.
I appreciate you offering to perform this week's (the week Apr. 12-18) Be a Stud Citizen Message. I decided to go with another famous Bostonian and moment that leads into Patriots Day - the Midnight Ride of brave, colonial Bostonian Paul Revere. It has more flow as a story/script than recounting what happened during the Battles of Lexington and Concord (Patriots Day). Let's have some fun with it.
I'd recommend using a laptop to scroll through this page/script while you read/record on your iPhone using the 'Voice Memo' or another audio recording app. You can ignore any words in [ brackets ]. When your recording is done, iMessage or email it to me ([email protected]) and I will turn it into a short audio file / podcast available on our website, app, and podcasting platforms. Thanks for helping Flag Steward to fulfill its mission to: Build Better (more Informed, Inspired, Respectful) Student Citizens.
In God We Trust, -Sean
P.S. If you want to break up the script and have another Bostonian, like Mike O'Malley, do part of it, then go for it. ;) ]
Gooood Day, USA!
Welcome to Flag Steward's
'Be a Stud Citizen' Message
for Wednesday, April 14, 2021
[ Pic of 'The Ranch' at Highlands Ranch, CO with the Boulder Flatirons and Longs Peak in the background = S. Sweeney pic in Nov. 2020 ]
Welcome to Flag Steward's
'Be a Stud Citizen' Message
for Wednesday, April 14, 2021
[ Pic of 'The Ranch' at Highlands Ranch, CO with the Boulder Flatirons and Longs Peak in the background = S. Sweeney pic in Nov. 2020 ]
"No taxation without representation"
"No taxation without representation"
That statement is appropriate to think about this week since tomorrow is Tax Day and the end of this week marks the start of the American Revolutionary War - a war in which "no taxation without representation" was a popular catchphrase and slogan.
But, today's story from Our Flag begins with another famous phrase from that timeframe.
"One if by land, two if by sea"
"One if by land, two if by sea"
246 years ago, during this week in US History, a Bostonian Patriot, a colonial rebel some might have called him, gave Robert Newman these instructions to light one or two lanterns in the Old North Church of Boston. Why and for whom was Robert Newman doing this?
"No taxation without representation"
That statement is appropriate to think about this week since tomorrow is Tax Day and the end of this week marks the start of the American Revolutionary War - a war in which "no taxation without representation" was a popular catchphrase and slogan.
But, today's story from Our Flag begins with another famous phrase from that timeframe.
"One if by land, two if by sea"
"One if by land, two if by sea"
246 years ago, during this week in US History, a Bostonian Patriot, a colonial rebel some might have called him, gave Robert Newman these instructions to light one or two lanterns in the Old North Church of Boston. Why and for whom was Robert Newman doing this?
[ Sketch of the Old North Church = public domain ]
This is Brian Scannell, stepping in to serve as today's Flag Steward - Caretaker of Our Flag and Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, and Virtues woven within. Sean Sweeney, the founder of Flag Steward, asked me, one of his Bostonian cousins, to perform this week's 'Be a Sud Citizen' Message about one of colonial Boston's heroes.
[ Brian, insert a bit about yourself ??? ]
As an actor, I've played many roles as someone who took a stand, and often fought, for what he believed in. And, the same can be said of the central character in today's 'Be a Stud Citizen' Message - a proud, brave, liberty-seeking colonial Bostonian who put others before himself.
This is Brian Scannell, stepping in to serve as today's Flag Steward - Caretaker of Our Flag and Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, and Virtues woven within. Sean Sweeney, the founder of Flag Steward, asked me, one of his Bostonian cousins, to perform this week's 'Be a Sud Citizen' Message about one of colonial Boston's heroes.
[ Brian, insert a bit about yourself ??? ]
As an actor, I've played many roles as someone who took a stand, and often fought, for what he believed in. And, the same can be said of the central character in today's 'Be a Stud Citizen' Message - a proud, brave, liberty-seeking colonial Bostonian who put others before himself.
[ Colonial Boston map = public domain image ]
It's the evening of April 18, in 1775, and Robert Newman is watching the British ships from the top of the Old North Church. And, he's repeating to himself, the instructions given to him, "one if by land, two if by sea," to alert colonials if the British soldiers were taking a land or water route to go arrest a couple of important colonial Boston leaders. Upon seeing the soldiers moving in rowboats across the Boston harbor bay, by sea, Robert Newman hung two lanterns in the Old North Church steeple.
The two lantern signal began the famous 'Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.' Yes, Paul Revere, one of America's most famous Patriots, instructed Robert Newman to make the lantern signal so he could begin his trip from Charlestown to go warn John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other members of the Massachusetts Provinicial Congress in Lexington and Concord that the British troops were coming to arrest them and take away any guns and ammo they have.
The two lantern signal began the famous 'Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.' Yes, Paul Revere, one of America's most famous Patriots, instructed Robert Newman to make the lantern signal so he could begin his trip from Charlestown to go warn John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other members of the Massachusetts Provinicial Congress in Lexington and Concord that the British troops were coming to arrest them and take away any guns and ammo they have.
[ Drawing of Paul Revere's midnight ride = public domain image ]
"The red coats are coming! The British are coming! The red coats are coming!"
Legends say that Paul Revere rode for 20 miles from Charlestown to Lexington, Massachusetts, shouting these phrases along the way. But historians' research has dispelled that legend and reinforces that Paul Revere, knowing that most Boston-area citizens considered themselves as Englishmen and supporters of the British rulers, rode as silently as he could and only alerted known colonial Patriots (rebels) that "the Regulars are coming out" - meaning the regular, well-trained and armed British troops were heading this way.
Historians' research has also informed us that Paul Revere wasn't the lone hero, the only rider alerting colonials to be ready to face off against the British troops. While Paul Revere started his ride in Charlestown, a partner of his, William Dawes, began his ride through downtown Boston and they linked up 20 miles northwest of Boston, in Lexington, around midnight. Here they met with and warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the approaching British troops.
Legends say that Paul Revere rode for 20 miles from Charlestown to Lexington, Massachusetts, shouting these phrases along the way. But historians' research has dispelled that legend and reinforces that Paul Revere, knowing that most Boston-area citizens considered themselves as Englishmen and supporters of the British rulers, rode as silently as he could and only alerted known colonial Patriots (rebels) that "the Regulars are coming out" - meaning the regular, well-trained and armed British troops were heading this way.
Historians' research has also informed us that Paul Revere wasn't the lone hero, the only rider alerting colonials to be ready to face off against the British troops. While Paul Revere started his ride in Charlestown, a partner of his, William Dawes, began his ride through downtown Boston and they linked up 20 miles northwest of Boston, in Lexington, around midnight. Here they met with and warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the approaching British troops.
Then, as they headed out of Lexington to get to their final destination, Concord, another rider, Samuel Prescott, joined Paul Revere and Williams Dawes. And, thankfully, he did. For a British patrol spotted the 3 of them and arrested Paul Revere. Dawes and Prescott escaped capture by the British troops. Unfortunately, Dawes injured himself while escaping and was not able to complete the trip to Concord, but Samuel Precott did. And, by then, out-of-earshot from Boston, the shouting, ringing of bells, beating of drums, and gunshot warnings rang out towards Concord to prepare them for the troops headed their way.
All this commotion, and knowledge that about 500 British troops were on their way to do more than just arrest John Hancock, Samuel Adams, a few other colonial leaders, stirred up the Lexington and Concord 'Minutemen' to prepare to do battle with the British.
And, that leads us to the morning of April 19, 1775 and the beginning of the American Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord - which we will detail on Patriots Day.
All this commotion, and knowledge that about 500 British troops were on their way to do more than just arrest John Hancock, Samuel Adams, a few other colonial leaders, stirred up the Lexington and Concord 'Minutemen' to prepare to do battle with the British.
And, that leads us to the morning of April 19, 1775 and the beginning of the American Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord - which we will detail on Patriots Day.
[ Battle of Lexington = public domain image ]
For now, it's time to recall and celebrate the brave men, Bostonians Revere, Dawes, and Prescott, who successfully warned their fellow colonial Patriots to prepare to fight for liberty.
This heroic story begs me to ask, "would you step out of your comfort zone, would you be a 'stud' citizen, an awesome do-good-for-others citizen, when faced with an opportunity to protect your fellow Americans and fight in defense of our rights?"
This heroic story begs me to ask, "would you step out of your comfort zone, would you be a 'stud' citizen, an awesome do-good-for-others citizen, when faced with an opportunity to protect your fellow Americans and fight in defense of our rights?"
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, inspired by this week's 'Be a Stud Citizen' Message about the courage and determination of Paul Revere and his Midnight Riders, please unite and recite the Pledge.
That's it. Thanks for participating in today's U.S. Flag tribute.
This is Brian Scannell, this week's guest Flag Steward, signing-off, as Sean always does with:
Go out and 'Be a Stud Citizen' - that means be an awesome, good-to-each other citizen,
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
This is Brian Scannell, this week's guest Flag Steward, signing-off, as Sean always does with:
Go out and 'Be a Stud Citizen' - that means be an awesome, good-to-each other citizen,
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)
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Flag Steward (formerly known as Beacon of Honor and originally incorporated as GivingVu.org, Inc. in 2013) is a nonpartisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Tax ID# 46-2457373