The Assault on the Capitol and Our Founding Ideals

By David Harmer Written January 6, 2021 This is the story of two insurrections—one thwarted, one ignited. From Newburgh, New York, the Continental Army continued to monitor British-occupied New York City, but disaffection was smoldering. Eight long years after the Revolutionary War began, those who had borne its battles had gone months without pay, and […]

As Election Day Approaches

By David Harmer With Election Day just four weeks away, and partisan passions running high, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge reaffirms its longstanding policy of political neutrality. The Foundation and its local chapters are nonpartisan and nonpolitical. Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is incorporated and legally recognized as a tax-exempt charitable and educational organization. Contributions […]

We Were Defeated by a Nobler Idea

By David Harmer Last week we commemorated the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s acceptance of Japan’s surrender, ending World War II. (If you missed my message about the occasion, please read it here.) The occasion merits notice not merely for what it ended, but what it inaugurated: the liberation of the Japanese people, their […]

A Solemn Anniversary

By David Harmer “The formal ceremonies of surrender aboard the Missouri,” wrote General Douglas MacArthur in his Reminiscences, “were fixed for September 2, 1945”—75 years ago today. “I had received no instructions as to what to say or what to do. I was on my own . . .” Put yourself in General MacArthur’s position. […]

Flag Day

By David Harmer In nearly all professional sports it’s customary, before starting the game, to perform our national anthem. As the last notes approach and the crowd begins to cheer, I always have to suppress the instinct to shout, “Wait! It’s not over!” We’ve heard only the first stanza, and it leaves us hanging. It […]

Founding Mother Martha Washington

By David Harmer Among the many blessings of my role is the opportunity to host VIP visitors here at Valley Forge. Whenever their schedules permit, I personally escort them through Valley Forge National Historical Park, which borders our handsome campus. I never tire of telling what the Continental Army endured there, or what General Washington […]

In Honor of Dr. King

By David Harmer Freedoms Foundation today honors the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose most famous speech was solidly rooted in the ideals of the American founding. Before we quote his words, let’s put them in context. July 4, 1776: The Declaration of Independence officially inaugurates the American experiment. But the work of the […]

Serving Far from Home for the Holidays

By David Harmer On this date in 1777, General George Washington led the bedraggled, oft-defeated, retreating troops of the Continental Army into Valley Forge, establishing camp just a few minutes’ walk south of the site from which I now write. Snow began to fall. The weather worsened from cold to bitter to brutal. Refusing to […]

Thank You to Our Nation’s Veterans

By David Harmer On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, an armistice between the allied nations and Germany took effect, ending the bloody hostilities of World War I. Today we commemorate the centennial of that occasion. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, November 11th later came to be known as […]