Flares Of Freedom ...

 

“With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

    ~ from the inspiring Inaugural Address of

          President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

              ~ 1917 ~1963

 ~ 35th President of the United States of America

               ~ 1960 ~1963

             & U.S. Navy veteran

The birth of America & its freedom is celebrated with vivid flares of purple & gold flashing across the summer night sky by the Fourth of July fireworks set off from J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Happy Birthday, America! Bravo!

How wonderful it would be to have fireworks ~ and the fire of patriotism ~ in our hearts every day!

Carolina By The Sea ...

 “When we go back to the sea ~ whether it is to sail or to watch it ~ we are going back from whence we came.”

             ~ President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

                    ~ 1917 ~ 1963

             ~ 35^th President of 

                the United States of America

                    ~ 1960 ~ 1963

                 & U.S. Navy veteran

         ~ Remarks at the dinner for the

                 America’s Cup Crews

                   ~ September 14, 1962

The splendor of the Atlantic Ocean meets the edge of the shore at Folly Field Beach Park, Hilton Head Island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina on a beautiful late October morning.

 

Heavenward ...

“Here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.”

     ~ from the inspiring Inaugural Address of

     President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

       ~ 1917-1963

     ~ 35th President of the United States of America

        ~ 1960-1963

       & U.S. Navy veteran

An inspiring view of SS. Philip & James Roman Catholic Church in the historic downtown of Phillipsburg, New Jersey on an early July afternoon. The cornerstone was laid in 1860 for this magnificent Gothic structure, & the present edifice completed in 1889.

Phillipsburg, a Delaware River Town, was established March 8, 1861 and named for William Phillips, an early settler of the area.

Historic Faith ...

“I believe in an America where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”

            ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

                    ~ 1917-1963

~ 35^th President of the United States of America

                ~ 1960-1963

         & U.S. Navy veteran

   ~Address to the greater

       Houston Ministerial Association

           ~  Sept 12, 1960  

The historic First United Church of Christ of Easton stands as a beacon of faith in downtown Easton, Pennsylvania along the Karl Stirner Arts Trail on a beautiful late October afternoon.

The German Reformed Church was originally constructed at Third and Church Streets in 1775-1776 and was the largest building in Easton at the time. The church congregation’s office building, on Church and Sitgreaves Streets, dates from 1778, and was originally Easton’s second school building. The church served as a Revolutionary War hospital, treating wounded soldiers from the Battles at Brooklyn and Brandywine. It was during this time that George Washington came to the church to visit the wounded. The church was also the site of the Indian Treaty Conference in 1777.

The brick portions were designed by Thomas Ustick Walter, who was the architect of the dome of the United States Capitol and later served as President of the American Institute of Architects from 1876-1887. Known today as the First United Church of Christ of Easton, it stands as the oldest existing church building in the city.

The church has a Star of David in honor of Meyer Hart, Easton’s first Jewish citizen and a contributor to the original church building fund.

The Karl Stirner Arts Trail follows the historic and bucolic Bushkill Creek for 1.75 miles. Though the placement of artwork in a transcendent natural setting, the Arts Trail seeks to stir the public imagination and sense of possibility.

The trail is named for Easton sculptor Karl Stirner, who spent 25 years as a mentor and unofficial real estate agent, ushering aspiring artists to Easton.