While traveling through Monroe, MI we drove by an old Battlefield and pulled over. We decided to have lunch there and began to read the historical markers.
The River Raisin Battlefield was the site of one of the largest engagements during the War of eighteen-twelve. The battle on January twenty-second, and the massacre on January twenty-third, in the year eighteen-thirteen, was fought in Monroe, Michigan (formerly Frenchtown, Michigan) on the northern shore of the River Raisin. Of the nine-hundred thirty-four Americans who fought here, only thirty-three escaped death or capture.
The massacre of wounded soldiers shocked and enraged Americans throughout the Old Northwest Territory and “Remember The Raisin” became the battle cry for the War of Eighteen-twelve.
Interestingly enough, I was born in a city wherein Americans lost a major battle. Over there they cry -“Remember the Alamo”. Fifteen-hundred Mexican soldiers against approximately two hundred Texians. Survivors – two. Each man who surrendered – (less than ten altogether) – was killed.
From their website: “People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.”
When I went to the Alamo – they let my tour group into a room, where the women and children were hidden during the battle. I could almost hear the weeping echoing off of the stone walls. I could almost feel the fear vibrating in the atmosphere. They allowed us to walk through the areas where men gave their lives – and I could feel the holy hush reverberate through my senses.
When we went to the River Raisin Battlefield that day, tears welled up in my eyes. I swallowed them down and looked at the grounds where men lay dying – I came very close to cancelling the picnic and leaving, but the children were so excited….So I took them to an area where I could only hope the earth was free from sorrow. There is just something in the air when you go to a place like that.
Why do we forget these things? Men died for our freedom’s preservation. Men died to make a place in this world for their young ones. Men and women are dying now for freedom.
So much is at stake right now in our country. Everything men and women sacrificed for is now forgotten – International law is becoming more and more acceptable here – and it has no place here. America is DIFFERENT. That is why thousands flock to this place yearly.
Freedom is costly, my precious American brothers and sisters. Do you really think you can live your life with your focus on your workday, your movie-night schedule, and your love-life, and that Liberty – sweet beloved Liberty – is going to continue while you ignore it? It won’t. There are forces of evil trying to take it every day of your life – laws and bills are being passed that are removing your rights one at a time…
It does not matter how old you are.
If you are ignorant in this era of free information, it is willful and it is shameful.
We must look up and away from ourselves.
If we don’t, our self-centeredness will be our ruin.
