LET FREEDOM RING: HONORING REVOLUTIONARY WAR WOMEN

It is a great honor for the Pennsylvania Chapter of WFWP to be a locally registered women's organization here in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania; and every year WFWP participates as a team in the Fourth of July parade. As our chapter joins the parade and carries the banner of WFWP, some women wear T-shirts with the WFWP logo,and others display T-shirts stamped with the cover of WFWP founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon's, autobiography "A Peace-Loving Global Citizen."

Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was one of the original thirteen colonies; and Independence Hall is regarded by many as the birthplace of the United States of America.

As hundreds of other organizations join this annual celebration, thousands of parade watchers including all types of media representatives, come to record and cover this glamorous Lansdowne parade. City officials, including the mayor of Lansdowne, Mayor Anthony Campuzano, came to join this historical event. As we waved to thousands in the crowd, we remembered past heroines who sacrificed themselves to gain independence from Britain (seen in the red uniforms).

WFWP with the Hon. Margo Davidson

On this day, Pennsylvania State Representative Margo Davidson joined in the celebration. As she spoke, she reminded everyone to honor the "Amazing Women in War and in Peace." She continued, saying that although the call for arms was meant only for men, several women donned the uniform as revolutionary soldiers.

Deborah Samson, the first female who disguised herself as a man to join the Revolutionary War, was honored. Ms. Samson was subsequently but silently discharged after being detected as a woman. However, during the presidency of George Washington, she was called and given acknowledgement for her participation in the war as well as a pension. Later on she was designated a heroine and a great woman soldier who had proven that in history as well as today, in times of conflict and war as well as in peace, women's presence is always there.

Let us salute and honor our brave women in uniform!