Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s April 2, 1850. I’m at the home of 89-year-old Joseph Martin. Mr. Martin was a teenage soldier during the American War for Independence.
JG: “Mr. Martin, what is that book you have in your hand?”
JM: “Mr. Gillespie, it’s a copy of my book. I named it A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier. I wrote it so Americans would know that thousands of young boys like me, served our country for the cause of liberty, and we won.”
While Joseph Martin’s book did not draw much attention at the time, historians today view it as one of the most detailed accounts of the American War for Independence.
Read more about Joseph Martin.
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.
