patriotism

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.
--Mark Twain (1835-1910) American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer.

Tennessee's oldest town celebrates the Fourth this weekend with Jonesborough Days, more info here.  It's such a beautiful old town, a great place to spend the day.  For some really outstanding photography of Jonesborough, check C. David Cook's work.

Reagan Centennial

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
--Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th US President

Videos celebrating his life and legacy: 

From GE to the White House

Reagan Library Tribute (narrated by former TN Sen. Fred Thompson)
"A Time for Choosing," 1964

1st Inaugural, January 1981
Westminster Speech, 1982

Reagan Farewell Address, 1989

Washington County Courthouse

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington, letter to Robert Howe, August 17, 1779

Above: The Washington County Courthouse, located in Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee. When established in 1777 (named of course to honor General Washington), Washington County was on the frontier - and belonged to the North Carolina territory. In 1796, Washington County, NC was transferred to the newly established state of Tennessee. Here's a photo of the previous 1842 courthouse, which was torn down in 1912 to make way for the courthouse you see above, which was completed in 1913. In all, this is the sixth courthouse to occupy this site.

Jonesborough is home to the International Storytelling Festival, held the first weekend of October. Click here for more information.

Click here to visit the Historic Jonesborough website. The old downtown is a terrific place to visit - lots of great shops and restaurants.

A Light in the Wilderness

Washington College Academy was established in 1780 by Dr. Samuel Doak, a Presbyterian minister, educator and abolitionist. At the time of its founding "in the wilderness" (basically anywhere west of the Appalachians) Tennessee was not yet a state (that wouldn't occur until 1796), so the school's initial charter was granted by the state of North Carolina. Called Martin Academy at the time, it was the first institution of higher education west of the Appalachians. In 1795, the name was changed in honor of our first President, becoming the first educational institution in the US to bear his name. Known for its 'classical education', Washington College boasts a number of notable graduates including three governors, numerous legislators, and many college presidents, ministers, teachers, judges and lawyers. In 1923, the college curriculum was dropped and the institution became a college preparatory school. In recent years, the Academy has fallen on hard times and no longer operates as a college preparatory boarding school. It does, however, continue to offer a number of continuing adult education and GED classes. The 120 acre campus, located 7 miles southwest of Jonesborough, TN, is beautiful and loaded with history. Directions here. For more information, click here and here.

Pictured above: Harris Hall, one of the women's dorms.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
--Henry Brooks Adams (1838-1918) American author and historian

Truman for President

My friends, Will and Kendi, have such an amazing kid. This past spring he was running for 2nd grade president. Each candidate was to write a speech and deliver it to the class prior to the big vote. Here is the text of Truman's brilliant and stirring speech...

I promise that if you vote for me, Truman, as your next class president I will ask the principal if we can have lines drawn on the football field, and I'll ask the teacher if we can have drinks at the drinking fountain for as long as we want to and have unlimited pencil sharpening on Wednesdays and no "power-ups" in four square. Thank you for listening - remember a vote for me is a vote for you!

Ahhhh...what would you give for kid issues?

Above: First Baptist Church, Jonesborough, TN

Jonesborough Storytelling Festival

Tennessee's oldest town is all decked out and ready for this coming weekend's National Storytelling Festival. The 35th annual event runs October 5th thru 7th in historic Jonesborough, TN.

God created man because He loves stories.
--Elie Weisel (1928- ), author, Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Maundy Thursday

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

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I thought I'd share pictures of various churches from the region this Easter weekend. As Tennessee's oldest town, Jonesborough reminds visitors of a quieter and simpler time, a time when the church was the center of family and community life. Flags and steeples are everywhere in this nostalgic and quaint town. The top picture is of Fairview United Methodist Church. At the right is the First Presbyterian Church.