A "replica" of the Bible used in the Oath of Office for George Washington as displayed in Federal Hall in Downtown NYC
Sketch of Federal Hall as it looked in 1770s
Carol and Ron outside Federal Hall in March 2017
After our "Coney Island Misadventures" of last year's 4th of July celebration ( see Blog entry in 2016 for that experience)-- we decided to look for something more about this national holiday and it's
background. In March of this year, we went with our friends and fellow Missionaries Kent and Barbara Heideman to the Federal Hall in Downtown NYC to see, among other things, the Bible that
George Washington put his hand on while taking the Oath of Office prior to becoming our First President of the United States on February 4, 1789 (other sources say it was April 1789) . We found
a "treasure-trove" of information, displays and collections of items and facts about our Country's
founding. Except--we didn't get to see the Bible--it is actually "owned" by the Mason's Lodge of (somewhere in the City) and currently on display in their building (which, it turns out, was fairly close to where we were, but didn't know it). Anyway, we investigated events happening in the City
for this 4th of July and found a whole days' worth if things happening in and around this Federal Hall building. The building is part of the NATIONAL PARKS ORGANIZATION and they were the ones who planned and "hosted" these events throughout the day. We went with other Missionaries-- Elder and Sister Spencer and Jeanine Brown, Sister Kathy Nabors and Sister Fusako Miyashiro. It was a very FUN and interesting experience to celebrate this important day in our Nation's history. The Federal Hall is right next to Wall Street--so we also passed by
"Fearless Girl" and her stance in front of "the Charging Bull" on Wall Street.
"Fearless Girl" on Wall Street in Downtown NYC
"Fearless Girl" (and Sister Missionaries L-R Jeanine Brown, Kathy Nabors, Carol Mumford and Fusako Miyashiro) as they face the iconic Wall Street Charging Bull
According to Sis Nabors there had been quite a bit of "controversy" about the message of Fearless
Girl and her "facing the big, bad Charging Bull" frighten and/or "weaken her". Only in America!!
On Wall Street--the "Charging Bull" or "Bullish on the
Stock Market" iconic" symbol always has so many tourists around it--we just had to snap the picture as best we could!!
The Fife and Drum Corps from New Jersey
Outside Federal Hall as part of the "4th of July " celebration 🎉 in Downtown NYC--this Fife and Drum Corps from New Jersey came to entertain with Revolutionary War-era tunes. It was very well done!!
George Washington and his young "drummer" companion--outside Federal Hall "on July 4th, 1776--" anticipating his reading of the Declaration of Independence
Our gorgeous flag of the United States of America as it hangs outside the New York Stock Exchange building on Wall Street --kitty-corner from Federal Hall in NYC
Benjamin Franklin and his "famous kite"
Hearing from an "enslaved person" as she relates her "view" of the Colonies in 1776 (note--she did not refer to herself as a "slave"--interesting)
George Washington reading of the Declaration of Independence in the Rotunda of Federal Hall
Samuel Adams and " his very dramatic reading" of his part of the Declaration of Independence
Sister Mumford listening to the Fife and Drum Corps
"Hearts of Oak" Regiment from New York.
Hearts of Oak (originally "The Corsicans") were a volunteer militia based in the British-colonial Province of New York and formed circa 1775 in New York City. The original name was evidently adopted in emulation of the enlightened Corsican Republic, headed by Pasquale Paoli, which had been suppressed
six years before, and which got considerable sympathy in Britain and its colonies.
Militia members included students at King's College (now Columbia University) such as Nicholas Fish, Robert Troup and, perhaps most famously, Alexander Hamilton.[1] The company drilled in the graveyard of nearby St. Paul's Chapel before classes in uniforms
they designed themselves, consisting of short green tight-fitting jackets, a round leather hat with a cockade and the phrase "Liberty or Death" on the band, and a badge of red tin hearts on their jackets with the words "God and Our Right" (the motto Dieu et mon droit, translated into English and adapted to make its possessive pronoun plural).[1]
they designed themselves, consisting of short green tight-fitting jackets, a round leather hat with a cockade and the phrase "Liberty or Death" on the band, and a badge of red tin hearts on their jackets with the words "God and Our Right" (the motto Dieu et mon droit, translated into English and adapted to make its possessive pronoun plural).[1]
In August 1775 the Hearts of Oak participated in a successful raid, while under fire from the HMS Asia, to seize cannon from the Battery, thereby becoming an artillery unit thereafter.[1]
In 1776 Hamilton was given a commission as a Captain by the revolutionary New York Provincial Congress with instructions to raise the New York Provincial Company of Artillery(today the Regular Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery) and the mission to protect Manhattan Island. The Hearts of Oak formed its core.[1]
In 2015, a supporters group for a Major League Soccer team, New York City FC, took up the name Hearts of Oak [1] in tribute to Alexander Hamilton and his defenders of New York
C
Ron and Carol with a member of the "Hearts of Oak" Regiment at the 4th of July celebration at Federal Hall in NYC on July 4, 2017
The Motto as worn on their hats " Liberty Or Death"
Alexander Hamilton in his uniform of the New York Artillery ( later known as "Hearts of Oak")
An interesting "side note" to the "Hearts of Oak" discovery that day at Federal Hall-- as these members of this "band of Militia Men" sang their song--we (Ron and I) found a stirring similarity to the song Captain Blackbeard sings in the Disney movie "Blackbeard's Ghost" (a Mumford family favorite) (I think many can quote parts, verbatim!) Here are the lyrics to the first verse and chorus--almost exact words. And it hit me ( after all these years)--- that's WHY those Daughters of the American Revolution KNEW THE WORDS TO THAT SONG--'cause it was THEIR SONG--from the Hearts of Oak Militia!!
Heart of Oak
Come cheer up my Lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honour we call you, as freemen, not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honour we call you, as freemen, not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
That was a really FUN connection and a great way to spend that morning on July 4, 2017!!
A sweet pic from "home in Clifton, Idaho" of 5 of our little granddaughters and their "4th of July" hair braids "stars and stripes" as done by Hollie Mumford
Starting in the red shirt and going Clockwise-- Millie, Hattie & Anslea Mumford, Maggie Wilde and Mia Mumford. That's a lot of patience and love right there!!
We decided sort of "last minute" to go see some Fireworks--and we "walked and walked and. . . then began to almost RUN as we could "hear them" exploding LONG before we could "see them" due to all the tall buildings in the area. Finally we got close to the East River where we could finally see these last few!! And it was WORTH THE WALK!! Absolutely breathtaking!! No pictures could do them justice!! But here's my attempt in the 3 below!!
Another "4th of July" happily celebrated in New York City with my favorite companion and again "memorable" and we were happy to hear that "Family" had again gathered in Clifton, Idaho to celebrate there!! That makes us the "MOST HAPPY" of all!!
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