American Patriots & Heroes

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When a nation turns its back on virtue and honor, those of its people who still hold those ideals in high regard seem to either voice their rage or lapse into sulky nostalgia for the "good old days." But rage only generates more rage, and the good old days (even if they were as great as everyone remembers) will never return. The only profitable response, then, is to remember and celebrate the heroes of the past as examples to imitate and guides toward the future.

Looking back to see ahead seems counterintuitive until you realize the current lack of genuine heroes in positions of political and legal authority. Not that there are none, but increasingly the leadership of the United States is less wise, less virtuous, and simply less fit to lead than has previously been the case. Whether this is because the American people are more apathetic and given to self-pleasure rather than goodness and stability, or because the quality of its leadership has declined, is unclear.

What is clear is that without a desire for virtue true patriotism is impossible—but without true patriotism a return to virtue is equally impossible. It's a vicious cycle....unless we uphold the honorable men and women of our nation's history as examples of good citizens and base our patriotism on their adherence to goodness and nobility.

Men like John Quincy Adams, who continued to serve as a U.S. Representative after his presidency expired, simply because he wanted to serve. Or Sgt. Alvin York, whose Christian pacificism led him to one of the most impressive examples of military heroism in the trenches of France during the First World War. Or Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman whose belief in American ideals led him to leave France in defiance of the king and enlist his services as a military commander in support of the Revolution.

Women like Mary McLeod Bethune, the daughter of former slaves who began a school for African-American students at a time when their education was considered of little importance. Or Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to ever win the Medal of Honor (for services rendered in the American Civil War). Or the perennial favorite, Pocahontas, who converted to Christianity and married John Rolfe (and who may or may not have saved the life of the wild child John Smith, a notorious liar).

Of course none of these people were perfect, and not everything they did was good or worthwhile. We don't want to ignore their flaws. But we also don't want to dismiss them because they exhibited human characteristics and flaws. What we do want is to remember and learn from their virtues and self-sacrifice on behalf of their nation. Particularly, we want to pass this knowledge on to our children, who are our best hope for a return to goodness and a rejection of the shallowness and evil that pervades our society. This is the kind of patriotism we want to encourage, and the kind of national spirit such patriotism engenders.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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American Patriots & Heroes

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8th grade (Ages 13-14)

	American Heroes of the 20th Century Landmark Giant #14 by Harold & Doris Faber from Random House for 5th-8th grade in Landmark Giants (Location: VIN-LAN) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia Landmark Series by Margaret Cousins from Random House Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $5.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Biography of George Washington The Patriot President Sons of Liberty Series by William M. Thayer from A Beka Books for 5th-9th grade in A Beka Book Report books (Location: REA-ABK)
	Buffalo Bill's Life Story An Autobiography by William F. Cody, Illustrated by N.C. Wyeth 1966 printing from Holt, Rinehart and Winston for 6th-Adult in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.99
	Captain Edward L. Beach: Around the World Under Water by Beril Becker from Kingston House for 6th-10th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Charles A. Lindbergh A Human Hero by James Cross Giblin from Clarion Books Biography for 5th-8th grade 1998 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.00 (2 in stock)
	D'Aulaire American Biographies Package by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for Kindergarten-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $106.82
	Daniel Boone His Own Story by Daniel Boone from Applewood Books Biography for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Daniel Webster Sowers Series by Robert Allen from Mott Media Biography for 6th-8th grade in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW) $8.99
	Davy Crockett His Own Story by David Crockett from Applewood Books Biography for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Eagle and the Fort The Story of John McLoughlin by Dorothy Morrison from Oregon Historical Society Press Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Freedom Train The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling from Scholastic Inc. Biography for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.99
	Freedom's Children Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories by Ellen Levine from Penguin Putnam Biography for 4th-8th grade in Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968) (Location: HISA-20CIV) $7.99
	General George Patton Old Blood & Guts Sterling Point Books by Alden Hatch from Sterling Publishing Co. Historical Non-Fiction for 5th-8th grade in WWII: European Theater (Location: HISA-20WW2E)
	George B. McClellan Disposable Patriot by Michael McHugh 2^nd edition from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.00
	George Rogers Clark, Soldier in the West by Walter Havinghurst from McGraw-Hill for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	George Washington & the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin from Dutton Children's Books Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	George Washington: Soldier and Man by North Callahan from William Morrow & Company for 7th-10th grade in Clearance: History & Geography (Location: ZCLE-HIS) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Geronimo Wolf of the Warpath Sterling Point Books by Ralph Moody from Sterling Publishing Co. Biography for 5th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 5th-8th grade 1990 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher Preachers by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.99
	Helen Keller: The Story of My Life Signet Classics by Helen Keller Reprint from Signet Classics Autobiography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $5.95
	Helen Keller: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller from Dover Publications Autobiography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $1.50 (4 in stock)
	Illustrious Americans - Volume 1 by Edward Everett Hale from Mantle Ministries Biography for 8th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Illustrious Americans - Volume 2 by Edward Everett Hale from Mantle Ministries Biography for 8th-10th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
	Indian Portraits of the Pacific Northwest by George M. Cochran 3^rd edition from Binford & Mort Publishing for 4th-8th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT)
	Jed Smith Trailblazer of the West by Frank Latham from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.50 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	John Charles Fremont by Ronald Syme from William Morrow & Company for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	John Paul Jones The Pirate Patriot Sterling Point Books by Armstrong Sperry from Sterling Publishing Co. Biography for 5th-9th grade in War of 1812 (Location: HISA-19WET) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Life of General Stonewall Jackson by Mary Williamson from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.75 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of George Washington by Mary Williamson from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.75
	Life of J.E.B. Stuart by Mary Williamson 2^nd edition from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.75
	Life of Washington In Words of One Syllable by Josephine Pollard from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 3rd-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1988 Newbery Medal winner in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (3 in stock)
	Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence A reprint of an 1848 original by Benson J. Lossing 3rd Printing from WallBuilder Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Louis Zamperini Redemption by Geoff & Janet Benge from Emerald Books for 4th-8th grade in Heroes of History (Location: BIO-BENGE) $11.99
	Luther the Leader by Virgil Robinson from A. B. Publishing, Inc. Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.95 $4.00 (4 in stock)
	Man Who Wouldn't Give Up: Henry Clay by Katherine E. Wilkie from Julian Messner for 7th-10th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Martin Luther The Great Reformer by J. A. Morrison 2^nd edition from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.50
	Martin Luther The Great Reformer by J. A. Morrison 3^rd edition from Christian Liberty Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.75
	Miracle Worker A Play in Three Acts by William Gibson from Pocket Books Drama for 7th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Poor Richard by James Daugherty from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 6th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Poor Richard by James Daugherty Biography for 6th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Profiles in Courage Young Readers Memorial Edition by John F. Kennedy from HarperCollins Biography Anthology for 4th-8th grade 1957 Biography Pulitzer Prize in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Profiles in Courage (abridged) Young Readers Edition by John F. Kennedy, illustrated by Emil Weiss from HarperCollins Biography Anthology for 4th-8th grade 1957 Biography Pulitzer Prize in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $4.80 (2 in stock)
	Real Book about George Washington by Harold Coy, illustrated by Elinore Blaisdell from Garden City Books for 5th-8th grade in Real Books series (Location: VIN-RBA) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Robert E. Lee Gallant Christian Soldier Sowers Series by Lee Roddy from Mott Media Biography for 6th-8th grade in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
	Salt in His Blood Life of Michael De Ruyter by William Rang from Inheritance Publications Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam Houston: The Tallest Texan Landmark #32 by William Johnson, illustrated by William Reusswig from Random House for 5th-8th grade in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
	Sergeant York and the Great War His Own Life Story and War Diary by Alvin C. York from My Father's World Autobiography for 7th-Adult in World War I (1914-1919) (Location: HISA-20WW1) $22.00
	Sitting Bull and His World by Albert Marrin from Dutton Children's Books Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Spirit of 1776 Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness During the American Revolution by Peter Seymour from Hallmark Publications for 6th-Adult in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Spirit of St. Louis by Charles A. Lindbergh from Charles Scribner's Sons Biography for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Stonewall by Jean Fritz & Stephen Gammell from PaperStar Books Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.99
	Story of Amelia Earhart Signature Books #33 by Adele de Leeuw, illustrated by Harry Beckhoff from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 3rd-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Andrew Jackson Grosset & Dunlap Signature #13 by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft, illustrated by David Hendrickson from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Benjamin Franklin Grosset & Dunlap Signature #5 by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft, illustrated by Edward A. Wilson from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Buffalo Bill Signature Books #1 by Edmund Collier, illustrated by Nicholas Eggenhofer from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Daniel Boone Signature Books #15 by William O. Steele, illustrated by Warren Baumgartner from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 4th-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Davy Crockett Grosset & Dunlap Signature #3 by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft, illustrated by C. B. Falls from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 4th-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower Signature Books #38 by Arthur J. Beckhard, illustrated by Charles H. Geer from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 3rd-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of George Washington Grosset & Dunlap Signature #12 by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft, illustrated by Edward A. Wilson from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of George Washington Carver Signature Books #17 by Arna Bontemps, illustrated by Harper Johnson from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 4th-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of John Paul Jones Grosset & Dunlap Signature #20 by Iris Vinton, illustrated by Edward A. Wilson from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Lafayette Signature Books #7 by Hazel Wilson, illustrated by Edy Legrand from Grosset & Dunlap Biograhy for 4th-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Martha Washington Grosset & Dunlap Signature #32 by Jeannette C. Nolan, illustrated by Corinne B. Dillon from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 4th-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of President Kennedy Grosset & Dunlap Signature #50 by Iris Vinton, illustrated by Carl Cassler from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 5th-9th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Story of Stephen Decatur Grosset & Dunlap Signature #29 by Iris Vinton, illustrated by Graham Kaye from Grosset & Dunlap Biography for 3rd-8th grade in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
	Theodore Roosevelt - The Strenuous Life by John A. Garraty from American Heritage Publishing Co. Biography for 4th-8th grade in American Heritage Junior Library (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Tom Paine, Freedom's Apostle by Leo Gurko, illustrated by Fritz Kredel from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for 6th-10th grade 1958 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Tom Paine, Revolutionary by Olivia Coolidge from Charles Scribner's Sons Biography for 7th-10th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Virginia's General Robert E. Lee and the Civil War by Albert Marrin from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	What Really Happened In Colonial Times A Collection of Historical Biographies by Terri Johnson, editor from Knowledge Quest Biographies for 4th-8th grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	What Really Happened In Colonial Times A Collection of Historical Biographies by Terri Johnson, editor Revised from Knowledge Quest Biographies for 4th-8th grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	William Bradford Plymouth's Faithful Pilgrim by Gary D. Schmidt from Eerdmans Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.00 $7.50 (2 in stock)
	William Jennings Bryan Sowers Series by Robert Allen from Mott Media Biography for 7th-9th grade in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW) $8.99
	Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln A Book of Quotations by Anthony Gross from Dover Publications for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Wit and Wisdom of the American Presidents Dover Thrift Editions by Joslyn Pine from Dover Publications for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $2.50 $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Wives of the Signers The Women Behind the Declaration of Independence by Harry & Mary Green from WallBuilder Press Biography for 7th-10th grade in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN)
	Wyatt Earp: U.S. Marshal Landmark #67 by Stewart H. Holbrook from Random House for 5th-9th grade in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
	Yankee Thunder The Legendary Life of Davy Crockett by Irwin Shapiro, illustrated by James Daugherty from Simon and Schuster for 4th-8th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)

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