Experience the American dream with today’s Patriots of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s December 21, 1778. I’m with the wife of German General von Riedesel.
JG: “Frederika, is it true you named your daughter Amerika?”
FVR: “Ja, it is true, Mr. Gillespie. Last Christmas holiday, I observed a unique spirit in America. After my husband’s capture, we were imprisoned, but were treated with dignity and respect so I decided to honor your country by naming my baby girl ‘Amerika.'”
Many Hessian soldiers were so impressed with the attitude of respect for life and liberty in America that they settled in the United States and became proud American citizens.
Read more about the life of Frederika von Riedesel.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
