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Good afternoon we're speaking to you from the mall in Central Park here the annual Independence Day celebration is about to start the celebration is sponsored by the sons of the American Revolution and it's broadcast by a city station as a public service speaker this year will be Paul our script and not open the program microphone up with Roger dog past president of the New York chapter sons of the American Revolution. The invocation will be pronounced by the Reverend Stephen J. devil how the church of transfiguration of Brooklyn Let us pray. Who has given us this good land for our heritage the beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves the people mindful of fever and glad to do. Bless our land with honorable industry sound learning and pure manners save us from violence discord and confusion from pride and arrogance A and from every evil way defend our liberty and fashion into one united people the multitude. Of many kindred tongue and do with the Spirit of Wisdom those to whom in the name we entrust the authority of government that there may be justice and peace at home and that through a begins to that we may show forth I praise among the nations of the earth in the time of prosperity for our hearts with thankfulness and in the day of trouble suffered out our trust in the to fail all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen. And I should land them well be sung by MEST Jo-Ann hell where you all plays join in on a god. Writes all its present. Hopes. A. Rule. Is broad stripes. This. Rule lets. US use. Was. How much. United States. States. United States falls However. United States that right. That. Following telegram was received I am sorry because my two boys. We'll be out of New York City to die we are unable to join you in the sounds of the American Revolution at the end upon a stay ceremonies to be held in Central Park Please extend my very best wishes to all of those attending and my hopes for a most joyous and patriotic Di Kindest Regards Robert F. Wagner mayor. We will now hear from Mr James Metro president of the New York chapter sons of the American Revolution Mr Mitchell thank you Mr Donahue I neglected to important introductions which I regret Mr Hamilton Williams commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars a Bronx thank you and Colonel James W. Irving of the city. Committee who has done so much to help us plan this band and I can't let this pass without saying that James W. Irving and James W. Mitchell both were born on the Fourth of July eleventh. Thanks All right the proclamation the mayor whereas our country's tradition of liberty can say by our forebears and dedicated the blood of patriots is a precious heritage of all Americans and we're just forces in many parts of the world today to waken and destroy the ideals of liberty cherished by all our shadows. And whereas we bask in the family our liberty when we recall its origin and how all the sacrifices made by Americans to nurture and to fan were as this year marks the one hundred eighty nine anniversary of American independence. Founded on liberty and whereas the New York City chapter Symes the American Revolution is marking its Independence Day with ceremonies of appropriate. Now therefore I Robert de Walker mayor of the city of New York to air by proclaim the independence day of July for nineteen sixty five as a day of special solemnity and urge all good citizens of the city of New York to attend special ceremony to be conducted by the Yes they are in Central Park Mall that day on behalf of each and every hatred of the present time in honor of the patriots of our past and what I swear by and here on my hand and cause of the city of New York to be a flake Robert W. Wagner mayor of New York. Thank. You it is most fitting and appropriate that on this Independence Day we have as part of the program an exciting story of the sacrifices made by the founders of this country in the Revolutionary War Mr Donald will speak on the battle of Manhattan which occurred on this island in September seventeen seventy six you know as the chairman of this Independence Day observance still Roger. It is indeed appropriate that on I suppose and opponents day that we have a reference to the important events that occurred in the American Revolution on this Manhattan Island the near disaster as to feats of the revolutionary army and the battles of Brooklyn and caps back and September seventeenth seventy six and the subsequent victory in the battle of Harlem Heights is a most exciting story what you're Ford's an insight into the leadership qualities General Washington. The British army under-served William how. On Staten Island in June of seventeen seventy six was the largest expeditionary force of Great Britain had ever put together and was about twenty two thousand Professional soldiers supported by a flake of fifty warships right Britain at this time that finally decided that the nonsense had to stop there about the rebels had to be punished However General Washington was at a great disadvantage in these battles because he didn't have much experience he had never commanded an army in the open field and he proceeded to commit perhaps one of the most serious blunders in the art of war. By dividing his medal and experienced army between Manhattan and Brooklyn Admiral how the British commander must have seen what would have happened if he had orders his fleet into the East River and cut off Washington's retreat from Long Island that's spotting his army and making it vulnerable to a very easy conquest of British forces landed in Brooklyn on the morning of August twenty seventh seventeen seventy six and they quickly defeated you know experienced soldiers of the revolutionary army. Almost automatically retreated at the entrance of the British charge Washington as soon as the engagement started rushed over from Manhattan with fresh regiments but by the time we got there the defeat was an accomplished fact the American Army was in fact almost around the thundering of the Hessian cannons and the first charge of the veteran British redcoats completed a disastrous rout. The prospect of survival of the revolutionary army on the afternoon of August twenty seventh in that year was exceedingly damp and date however at that time something rather unusual happened that might be termed celestial interference in the destiny of man it began to rain while the revolutionary army was in disorderly were treated to the banks of the river and we don't quite recognize it to die what proper British generals did not fight in the right proper British generals could only retire to their tents for this above all they were dignified men facing only rebels were disorganised that's the revolutionary army was temporarily saved because the British advance was Can't it continued to rain all day on the twenty eighth of August seventeenth seventy six which gave Washington the opportunity to assemble as tropes the crowd them into little robots for transport to Manhattan the British on that day only had to sweep down and collect what was left of the revolutionary army and putting their general and the Revolution at that point what have been terminated the effectiveness of the British spy system was apparently not sufficient to inform General how I Washington's just a right you're a snow is recorded and that a loyalist Tory woman residing on the banks of the river right opposite the what is now the Fulton Fish Market tried to send General how knows Washington's helplessness and Sandor servant with an explanatory message to British headquarters the messenger was promptly apprehended. By a Russian officer who can speak no speak no English and he appropriately throw him into the guard house where there's precious information on the morning of August twenty ninth Washington was the last to leave Long Island as a British were now aware of his plight and they marched down to the East River but Washington in the neck of time was in med spray taking the last boat and row to Manhattan Stoney's were renewed on September fifteenth when the British landed it kept. On the flight of what is now thirty fourth Street Washington was at was at its headquarters in Harlem when he heard the DOL booming of cannons on the East River signaling the landing of British troops and immediately rode with his aides to the scene about how he was dismayed when he ran into a disorganized mob of flame soldiers and I wait field who are now is located Grand Central Station and quickly realized that this was not a battle but an ignominious stampede Washington was livid with rage but neither he nor his officers could control this disorganized. But perhaps he should have realized that the troops defending kept were only raw recruits some of them were armed only with pikes and pickaxes and that his personal presence was necessary to inspire them if they were to stand up at all through the experience profession however Washington was a general without an army and it is recorded that he was quote pale haggard and broken but again there seemed to be almost but nine celestial interference. The trouble with the British on that afternoon was that they didn't have any general for all the generals who had gone to a party at the residence of the game Mrs Robert Murray those houses. Are Now what is thirty eight straight and Park Avenue after all what was the reason for haste the British officers asked what all the rebels could do in battle was to run. To the delay of the British advance the revolutionary army escaped again and retreated to Harlem Heights and I cannot refrain from remarking that it is this is perhaps the first recorded. Negative result of what happens to people who attend Park Avenue parties the dawn of the next day was about to bring bring about one of the most inspirational reversal in the history of battles and it's almost hard hard to believe what happened Washington on the morning of September sixteenth place to troops on Harlem Heights taking the defensive of high ground on a line roughly from one hundred twenty five straight St Nicholas Avenue one hundred thirtieth Street knots and river he was consumed with a calm in the combination of fury and remorse at the defeat of yesterday and his grim determination was easily understood and communicated to us troops these defeats apparently did not diminished in any way his immense power to inspire confidence in his troops he ordered Colonel not men his Rangers Connecticut Rangers to advance in probe the right flank of the British line and at about one hundred sixty eight they met and fired at a British column and after inflicting heavy casualties returned the American line. The British were somewhat amazed at this unexpected audacity of the revolutionary troops what was this the signal for the British main attack was a fanfare of trumpets and in the center of the British line a bugler put a horn to his lips and blow a fox hunters signal for the end of the chain a signal meaning the Fox has been cornered and about to be taken by the dogs a wave of high anger spread through the revolutionary line they heard this taunting and so during the period of the next two hours every British attack on the American line was repulse then Washington ordered on advanced and for the first time in the revolution the Colonials made a bayonet charge in a field where now stands Columbia University the stampede was not redcoats but were fraying from the inspired infuriated revolutionary troops and they retreated to the lower end of Manhattan this defeat of the British was of suppression proportions to the British commander General William how to immediately report to a larger main Secretary of War that he needed a much larger army if he was to continue the war the battle of this day although a minor victory and there were victories and defeats of some caliber caliber for several years to come was indeed an inspired reversal of significant proportions and came most appropriately after a low ebb in the fortunes of the revolutionary army the record of this battle remains today. As an impressive testament to the massive courage and the inspirational qualities of our first president George Washington. We will now have a medley of patriotic heirs by the First United States Army Band. And. With the. With the the. With the. With the. With the. With. With the. Any Independence Day celebration would be complete without some reference to the actual declaration opposing. Perhaps the most. Of history and most certainly. Automatic inspiration to all Americans on this day. There for the representatives of the United States of America and general Congress assembled. Publish and declare that the united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent state. And for the support of the Russian firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence mutually pledge to each other our lives our fortunes and our sacred honor. America the Beautiful. Also And he in the finest I. Thank would be incomplete without the impression. Of General Washington we have come here to die and the person Mr Henry Dubois. Washington Mr Bush. Remake. Without keep the United States and by holy protection a thousand will turn climbed the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government and entertain abroad the lay of the love for one another and for the citizens of the United States at large and finally the most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do justice. To. Love mercy. And to demean ourselves with. No military and perceptive mind which one of the characteristics of the divine laws religion without any humble imitation of whose example in these things. We can never hope to be a happy nation. Maybe sixteen through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen. Plays we have with us to die as a part of our pageant not only General Washington but the. Colonial ladies who are members of the Washington headquarters Association ladies when your place. This concludes our celebration of today right we thank you for coming and again next year we will be here at the same place and look forward to saying thank you. From the sun. I think with Independence Day celebration on the sun American for. My years in the States it's a fun. Return to our studios the goodness of all feeling.