Bill of Responsibilities
Pennsylvania has many historical sites and monuments, some very well known, some less so: Carpenter’s Hall, Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Valley Forge, the site where Washington crossed the Delaware River to attack Trenton NJ on Christmas Day, Gettysburg Battlefield, and the Point of Beginning for the U.S. Public Land Survey.
One lesser-known place is a beautiful 75 acres campus nestled in the wooded rolling hills that are abundant throughout the Commonwealth. Located very near a renowned site - Valley Forge, General Washington’s historical winter encampment.
Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge built a living memorial to honor the courageous individuals who dedicated their lives in defense of our nation’s founding principles.
Of the many monuments erected there, none are more important than a 14-foot marble monolith honoring one of this nation’s most important founding principles - the price of freedom is responsibility.
The base of the monument is a large block of marble engraved with the words “Fundamental belief in God”. Resting on that slab is a slightly smaller slab of marble engraved - “Constitutional government sustained by the active participation of the citizens.” How apropos, these two concepts form the foundation this country was built upon.
Atop the two foundation stones is a large monolith marble stone with the engraved text of the declaration.
Preamble:
Freedom and responsibility are mutual and inseparable; we can ensure enjoyment of the one only by exercising the other. Freedom for all of us depends on responsibility by each of us. To secure and expand our liberties, therefore, we accept these responsibilities as individual members of a free society.
Bill of Responsibilities
To be fully responsible for our own actions and for the consequences of those actions. Freedom to choose carries with it the responsibility for our choices.
To respect the rights and beliefs of others. In a free society, diversity flourishes. Courtesy and consideration toward others are measures of a civilized society.
To give sympathy, understanding, and help to others. As we hope others will help us when we are in need, we should help others when they are in need.
To do our best to meet our own and our family's needs. There is no personal freedom without economic freedom. By helping ourselves and those closest to us to become productive members of society, we contribute to the strength of the nation.
To respect and obey the laws. Laws are mutually accepted rules by which, together, we maintain a free society. Liberty itself is built on the foundation of law. That foundation provides an orderly process for changing laws. It also depends on our obeying laws once they have been freely adopted.
To respect the property of others, both private and public. No one has a right to what is not his or hers. The right to enjoy what is ours depends on our respecting the right of others to enjoy what is theirs.
To share with others our appreciation of the benefits and obligations of freedom. Freedom shared is freedom strengthened.
To participate constructively in the nation’s political life. A Republic depends on an active citizenry. It depends equally on an informed citizenry.
To help freedom survive by assuming personal responsibility for its defense. Our nation cannot survive unless we defend it. Its security rests on the individual determination of each of us to help preserve it.
To respect the rights and to meet the responsibilities on which our liberty rests and our Republic depends. This is the essence of freedom. Maintaining it requires our common effort, all together and each individually.
The smallest marble slab is at the top which bears the name of the monument - “Bill of Responsibilities”; capped off with a bronze American Bald Eagle with wings spread in triumph.
Are you part of the overwhelming majority of citizens fed up with big-government overreach, unlimited spending, and career politicians and bureaucrats not listening?
It is time to accept your duty and start working to restore the natural checks and balances in our written Constitution that limit government. Please, sign the petition, roll up your sleeves and let's get to work, together. We have a swamp to drain.
Are you ready to accept your responsibility to defend freedom?
