42EPILOGUE
It was a perfect day as the warm July 4th sunshine glimmered down upon a large crowd of Bostonians and tourists who had gathered at the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in order to commemorate the placement of a bronze statue in honor of the Sons of Liberty. Secret Service and undercover FBI stood hidden in plain sight, as the security of the event was exponentially increased due to the attendance of the President and the First Lady.
Within the crowd walked a certain DOJ employee and his wife along with their twins who rode contently in a double-stroller. They were joined by uncle Leland and aunt TK who were in town for a visit and had absolutely fallen in love with sweet baby Abby, whose hair was becoming blonder and whose pretty blue eyes mirrored those of her mother - and Leland's namesake, Lee, who at almost 4 months old was increasingly looking and even starting to act like a miniature Adrian.
"Poor Kid." Adrian would say when people would point out the resemblance, but down deep it pleased him because it was always said with a sense of love and never meant in a bad way.
For instance, when Leland first saw the babies, he exclaimed "Heaven help us! There are two of them!" to the sweet laughter of everyone in the room, including Adrian, who now, in his late 50s, felt as young inside as a 25 year old – even though sometimes his body begged to differ.
As they walked along the brick sidewalk, the couples stood before a statue of a Revolutionary War Patriot standing sentry, and read the inscription below. It was engraved with the names of many of this nation's founding fathers. Some names were quite recognizable and others more obscure. Nestled among them was one name that gave the Monks great pride- Mortimer Monk, blacksmith. It was a long overdue honor and they were happy that they had been a part of the restoration of his good name.
President John Stoddard stood on the stage, prepared to give a brief speech of dedication. Later, he would dismiss the crowd into some planned festivities, which included fireworks on the Harbor after dark. The Monks planned on returning home long before then and watching the spectacle with their friends from their back porch.
Stoddard nodded and waved in recognition when he saw the Monks, and the Stottlemeyers were somewhat impressed.
"You certainly have moved up in the world, Monk." Said Leland. "Just don't forget us from these lofty heights."
"Ah, that's just my cousin, John." Adrian replied, jokingly. "Nothing to worry about. He's family."
Stottlemeyer raised an eyebrow at the comment realizing that most people would have considered it sarcastic; but, for Monk, he knew it was just a statement of truth. Adrian wasn't that impressed with the social elite, and just figured that everyone else would be as nonchalant about it as himself.
As the President took the podium, the crowd cheered. Shouts of "USA, USA" filled the air and everyone applauded. Adrian and Natalie stood front and center as he addressed the crowd.
"Two hundred forty-three years ago, men, and women, of valor stood upon this land and risked their lives, their liberty and their sacred honor for a concept. That concept was Freedom.
Freedom – a illusive dream for so many throughout history but a reality that we, as free Americans, have enjoined for nearly two and a half centuries.
Freedom, under God, to live where you want, to do what you want, to marry whom you want, to worship whom you want, to say what you want – all without the interference of an intrusive government that oversteps its bounds in pursuit of power, and all without fear that the exercise thereof could mean life or death for the poor soul who should hope in its promise.
It is a gift, and it is a curse, to live as free men. For in the overabundance of freedom comes a forgetful mind, a prideful spirit, and a slothful attitude.
We forget that the amazing circumstances that we have so long enjoyed have been the exception and not the rule for most of history, and we are far too lax in defending and preserving this gift.
To live and die as free men and women. For most of the centuries, it was unheard of. But for our founding fathers, such as George Washington, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, William Dawes, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and my ancestor, Mortimer Monk – it was something worth living for, worth dying for, and something they wished to pass on.
The great Virginian, Patrick Henry understood the stakes that they were faced with and presented the people with a witness that still bears application to us today. Listen to his Patriot spirit as it beckons us to always be diligent to protect, preserve and defend our liberty – no matter what.
In a speech in 1775 to the Convention of the Colony of Virginia, speaking of a British government that had suffocated its colonial subjects and had left them with no hope of peace, Henry stated in part:
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Over the past two and a half centuries, many have died for the cause of liberty. Are we to stand here today and allow their sacrifice to be in vain?
My fellow Americans, let us take up the charge as modern Sons and Daughters of liberty and let us FIGHT to preserve what is our birthright – passed onto us by generations greater than ours. For should we lose what they have provided we shall never get it back.
The right to speak freely, the right to bear arms, the right to worship or not worship whom one chooses, the right to be free from illegal search and seizure of one's property, the right to OWN the property, freedom to be represented, freedom to be presumed innocent until proven guilty – all of these things are precious, and we should not allow the government, or the press, or the classroom, or anything take them away. Learn your history. Love your history. And remember that the gift you have been given is not to be spent on self-gratification, but is to be a light to the world spreading the cause of Freedom, and Freedom's God, to every corner of the globe. That light still shines today. May it never be extinguished.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!
As a military band struck up a song by John Philips Sousa, the crowd cheered and waved little American flags. The two couples smiled and clapped and looked around as President Stoddard stood on the stage next to his wife, clapping and waving at his audience.
Just then, the President's chief of staff made his way on to the stage and handed the President a piece of paper. Taking it, the President's expression turned from relaxed to exceptionally grave. He stopped applauding and whispered something first to the chief of staff who called over the Secretary of Defense who had made the trip with him. After a few words, the Secretary left and President Stoddard turned back towards the crowd, waving to the crowd nervously one last time and then looking out to the Harbor behind him. As he walked towards the stairs to exit the stage there was suddenly a bright flash far out into the distance followed by a plume of smoke and another even brighter flash. The crowd at first thought it was fireworks, but then, when the President and the First Lady were rushed quickly off the stage by their Secret Service security detail, they realized that it was something else.
Two explosions, somewhere out in the Atlantic about 10 miles away from the city of Boston. What could they be?
As Adrian, Natalie, Leland and TK watched the water with astonishment, they felt in their guts that whatever it was, it wasn't good.
A Special Thank You to alex hoodle, Dmander4483, KittyKat06, AJ, TrixieDixie6, and "Guest" for your faithfulness to review this story. Thank you for the rest for reading and following these stories. Your encouragement means a lot!
And thank you for the Creators and Actors of Monk for creating such fabulous characters to work with.
Janine