Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s December 19, 1777. I’m at the elegant home of General Marquis de Lafayette. The Marquis’ wife is throwing a Christmas party for French diplomats.
JG: “Madame de Lafayette, thank you for inviting me to your party, but where is the Marquis?”
MDL: “Oh, you’re welcome! The Marquis is in winter camp with General Washington. He asked me to have this party to show my French compatriots that America is capable of defeating the English. Viva la liberte and Merry Christmas, Mr. Gillespie!”
The French were eventually convinced of our ability to defeat the English and became our allies on our road to freedom.
Read more about the French participation in the Revolutionary War.
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.
