The Jefferson Memorial
There were four quotes surrounding Jefferson in his memorial. This one was my favorite:
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. That His justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Establish the law for educating the common people. This is the business of the state to effect and on a general plan."
Another said: "Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens... are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of Our Religion... No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We... solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states... and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honour."
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
George Mason Memorial
"I...look'd forward to...Independence,...and will risque the last Penny of my Fortune, & the last Drop of my Blood upon the Issue." -George Mason, 1778
"George Mason belonged to the genteel Virginia plantation society that cultivated some truly extraordinary leaders. George Washington regarded Mason as his mentor and Thomas Jefferson described him as "the wisest man of his generation." He devoted himself to achieving American independence, despite being a widower with nine children to raise. Mason helped draft the Fairfax Resolves that recommended a "continental congress" to preserve colonial rights. In 1776 Mason wrote the landmark Virginia Declaration of Rights that not only inspired the American Declaration of Independence, but also France's 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the United Nations' 1954 Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Strolling along the Potomac River at dusk. Um... need I say, we LOVED the fireflies! We caught a number of them, (and always set them free...).
To end the night we had Alli wax everyone's eyebrows. Ugh... Kjersten has an ultra powerful microwave and the wax melted all over! It sure was some fun cleaning it up :)
1 comment:
You look so pretty! The columns would be pretty to get Bridal pictures taken next to. Looks like fun!
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