Welcome to Pride in America Month. Every day in the month of June and through Independence Day, we will highlight a figure who has demonstrated and defended American values. Consider it a healthy alternative to the Left's June celebration that has taken over the media and corporate America.
Among the more subtle elements of our culture that the Left has sought to destroy is the American spirit. This concept is built on the value we place on life, liberty, and property but manifests in the tireless pursuit of independence, bravery in the face of the unknown, meaningful pursuits of work, and benevolence to our neighbors.
Few American heroes embody the nation’s ideals as concretely as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in their exploration of the West. The largely untested and unknown path of their more than two-year-long journey would require them to pave their own way.
As the personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, Lewis studied many subjects including botany, medicine, and astronomy from works held in Jefferson’s personal library collection. Jefferson later sent him to Philadelphia to study these sciences further and prepare him to explore the untamed West.
Meanwhile, Clark received a military education and was the brother of an American Revolutionary War hero, George Rogers Clark. He was a trained surveyor and served as Lewis’ supervising officer when they both were in the military.
Leading what was dubbed the “Corps of Discovery,” Lewis and Clark meticulously recorded the events of their expedition. Trying to cross what is presently known as the Bitterroot Mountain range was by far the most challenging part of their journey. Their men were often sick, and the winters were harsh.
Lewis and Clark traded with the native Shoshone and Nez Perce tribes, who helped them traverse the unforgiving terrain and gather food. It is well known that their expedition would have been unsuccessful before they could enter present-day Idaho if it wasn’t for the help of a Shoshone woman, Sacagawea, who served as a vital interpreter for their team.
It is not quite as difficult to get to Idaho anymore. This is evident in our ever-expanding cities and the rising price of property in the Gem State. But a short drive from these growing urban centers reveals the still untamed — and beautiful — Idaho frontier. Those who live in these areas appreciate the beauty of this terrain and respect the hardened character required to live amongst the rugged land.
These are the people that embody the Idaho way. They are among a shrinking group of people that embody the American spirit as it once was — untamed, independent, honest, and free.
The westward expansion of America enabled this way of life for many as the land was passed down through the generations. Venturing into the unknown, Lewis and Clark paved the way.
In honor of Lewis and Clark, we must preserve the American spirit from the Left’s destruction. Once it is gone, so goes our independence and the Idaho way of life.
Do you have a great American who deserves to be celebrated this month? Let us know!
