Experience the American dream with today’s Patriots of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s June 2, 1780. I’m in Philadelphia with the governor of Pennsylvania’s wife, Esther Reed.
JG: “Mrs. Reed, you’ve been receiving criticism as being unladylike for your efforts to support our troops in this war against the British.”
ER: “Oh, John, I don’t worry about those old curmudgeons. Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth, Deborah in the Old Testament, and many women in the Bible supported the cause of life and liberty. I shall continue to do the same.”
Esther Reed continued to collect large sums of money for our hungry troops and spoke out profoundly for the cause of freedom.
Read the full text of the letters exchanged between Esther Reed and George Washington concerning the money she raised for the troops:
Esther Reed’s letter, written July 4, 1780.
George Washington’s letter, written July 14, 1780.
Esther Reed’s letter, written July 31, 1780.
George Washington’s letter, written August 10, 1780.
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.
