select a famous American as my avatar from 2006-07-03 to 2006-07-09, in recognition of the U.S.'s Independence Day.

It was fun being Rick James for a few days. Why wouldn’t it be fun?

Thanks, all, for your contributions over the past week! I’m smiling to myself as I read your words of encouragement and appreciation.

This was an entertaining, enjoyable and educational project for me, as well…and a great illustration of the power of virtual teams and social networking.

I’ve got another idea for a few months from now…. ;)

This was a very interesting goal with a lot of great participants. Thanks to NYCineophile for the invitation. It has been fun.

thanks!

I had a lot a lot of fun with this one. Thanks NYCineophile for this!

Thanks to NYcinefile for the idea to celebrate the 4th. I must admit I’ve gotten a little hohum on the traditional ways to spend the 4th-fireworks and beer-not so much. Thanx to everyone for sharing some all-American stories.I still love storytime…

I have really enjoyed this week! It has been facinating to read everyones choices—it has been not only entertaining but informative.Thanks again to NYCinephile for bringing us all together.

Well-That was fun being someone else for a few days…Now what?

The role for which he is most remembered today was as a nighttime messenger before the battles of Lexington and Concord. His famous “Midnight Ride” occurred on the night of April 18–19, 1775, when he and William Dawes were sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to ride inland from Charlestown to warn the militias at Lexington and Concord of the approach of British army troops from Boston. Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling held the two lanterns in the Old North Church, indicating that the British soldiers were crossing the Charles River. Later, Dawes and Revere were joined by Samuel Prescott, a doctor who was just returning from a visit to Lexington. Instructed to make as little noise as possible on the route, Revere chose instead to alarm the houses along the route by shouting out a warning of the approaching troops. Revere probably did not shout the famous phrase later attributed to him (“The British are coming!”); his warning was: “The regulars are out!”

Paul Revere’s ride.

He reached Lexington around midnight and brought news of the British advance to Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were spending the night at the Hancock-Clarke House. All three riders were captured by British troops in Lincoln at a roadblock on the way to nearby Concord. Prescott and Dawes escaped, with Prescott able to reach Concord to deliver the warning. Revere was detained longer and had his horse confiscated. He walked back to Lexington and arrived in time to see the first shots of the battle the next day. The warning delivered by the three riders successfully allowed the militia to repel the British troops, who were harried by guerrilla fire along the road back to Boston.

Read more here.

The story of our beloved “America the Beautiful” would be incomplete without the composer Samuel Augustus Ward.The Ward family recounts a tale of inspiration as a day at the beach in 1882. They say that Sam boarded a steamer ferry after a Coney Island trip. The waves , seagulls and scenery spurred him to hum a tune. He fumbled in his pockets searching for some paper to write on. Finding none, his friend Harry took off a starched linen cuff and gave it to Sam. Leaning on the boat rail, he drew a staff and unknowingly wrote the melody of “America the Beautiful”. As the organist for Grace Episcopal Church in Newark , New Jersey he originally introduced his tune matched with lyrics derived from sacred Biblical texts,that hymn was “O Mother Dear, Jerusalem”. Years later a clergyman named Clarence A. Barbour looked through the metrical index of a hymnal to find the S. A. Ward melody and paired it with the ever popular poem “America the Beautiful” by Katherine Lee Bates. Katherine and Sam never met-never even communicated-but their soaring creations so seamlessly captured the American spirit, that they would be forever linked in our national heritage.
Source: “America the Beautiful” by Lynn Sherr