Saratoga's July 4th celebration - Inspirational leaders skit
Channel: SaratogansCA
Date: 2017-07-04

Saratoga's July 4th celebration - July 4th 2017
 EMCEE introduces And Now the Gifts of Freedom as portrayed by the Voices of Freedom -- all characters line up in front of the band
Facing the audience in this order - Thomas Jefferson (Howard Miller), Patrick Henry (one of the Sons of the Revolution), George Washington ( one of the Sons of the Revolution), Betsy Ross (Sue Mallory) ,Thomas Paine (Jack Mallory), Clara Barton (Venna Bishop), Abe Lincoln (Brent Fairbanks), FDR (Rishi Kumar), JFK (Chuck Page), and all the children releasing butterflies (Misty Davies will line up)
Begin Sound Recording
Christina will place desk and chair at center of “stage”
Open with empty chair
Narrator : The war for independence began with many things, but first it began with a letter
( Thomas Jefferson comes out and sits and writes with a feather pen )
Thomas Jefferson : We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--
( Thomas Jefferson gets up and walks back to the line, Patrick Henry comes forward and stands by desk)
Narrator : the war for independence, cost thousands of lives, and through the greatness of men and women general to soldier, nurse and doctor pure determination it was won, many following the cry for Liberty as said by Patrick Henry.
Patrick Henry : Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
( Patrick Henry steps back and George Washington goes to desk,standing, Betsy Ross comes behind him with flag)
Narrator:  George Washington said to Betsy Ross
George Washington : Our nation needs a flag to lead our valiant soldiers on to high and noble deeds Now can you make one for us?,
Betsy Ross :"I am not certain if I can; At least I'll gladly try... (pause Betsy takes out flag and shows him) your country’s flag, now behold
Narrator : And through his tear-dimmed eyes he saw the stars and stripes unfold.
Then to his breast he clasped it, and looked to heaven above.
 George Washington : Oh may it ever stand For rights and truth and love. For we are all a Citizen, by birth or choice, of a common country, the name of which is America,
( George and Betsy leave, Thomas Paine goes to the desk and writes) Narrator : The author of Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote..
Thomas Paine : These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”
( Thomas Paine leaves and Clara Barton goes to desk and begins to write)
Narrator:  And sadly within 100 years, our country would be in a bloody civil war, Nurse Clara
Barton penned this letter to her cousin on the eve of battle
Clara Barton :
My dear Cousin Vira
Five minutes time with you and God only knows what those five minutes might be worth
to the maybe doomed thousands sleeping around me
It is the night before a battle, The enemy Fredericksburg and its mighty entrenchments lie before us and the river between, at tomorrow's dawn our troops will essay to cross, and the guns of the enemy will sweep those frail bridges at every breath