Our Founding Fathers wanted a celebration of Freedom

Our Founding Fathers wanted a celebration of Freedom

This insight was struck upon by The Honorable Michael Warren, who was appointed to the Oakland Circuit Court in December 2002 by Governor John Engler; elected in 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2018, that America once had a vibrant civic calendar – Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Armistice Day – to renew our faith in America. They taught us the important things undergirding the United States – courage, sacrifice, personal responsibility, dedication, the rule of law, limited government, freedom, equality, and our Constitution.

This understanding was deeply embraced by the Founding Fathers. On July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that the anniversary of American independence would be marked with “pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, and now overtime, the civic holidays were stripped of their meaning and commercialized – now they are empty excuses for appliance sales, barbecues, and three-day weekends.

At a one-on-one lunch with his then ten-year-old daughter Leah, Judge Warren explained the importance – and demise – of the civic calendar. Outraged, Leah took it to heart and immediately vowed to do something about it. She pounded on the table and demanded that her father help her start a new celebration for America. Patriot Week was born. They agreed that the celebration should be a week with key anchor dates. After some serious research, they selected September 11 (the anniversary of the terrorist attacks – which has deep significance to this generation) and September 17 (the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution – Constitution Day (schools receiving federal education funds are required to teach about the Constitution on that day).

They also determined that each day should be dedicated to a First Principle from our Declaration of Independence: revolution; the rule of law; the Social Compact; unalienable rights; equality (racial); equality (gender); and limited government. Each day also commemorates the Founding Fathers and other great Patriots that made those First Principles come alive in America; key documents and speeches embodying the First Principles; and historical flags that represent them.

Since 2009, Patriot Week has caught fire across the nation. Bi-partisan Patriot Week resolutions and proclamations have been issued by over 17 Governors and State Legislatures, and various counties and municipalities. In 2019 and 2020, the US Senate unanimously passed a Patriot Week resolution, co-sponsored by a Democrat (Senator Gary Peters) and Republican (Senator John Kennedy).

Patriot Week participants across the nation have included K-12 schools, colleges, law schools, senior centers, libraries, Kiwanis, Rotaries, businesses, banks, law firms, and many others. These grassroots participants tailor their Patriot Week efforts to best meet the needs of their circumstances and stakeholders. Activities have included, among other things, lessons plans, school assemblies, panel discussions, book signings, guest speakers, essay contests, concerts, parades, picnics, paloozas, 9/11 commemorations, gubernatorial debates, movies, and festivals.

Each year there is an annual Patrick Henry Dinner which draws hundreds to watch Leah re-enact Patrick Henry’s Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! speech, has also featured historical re-enactors portraying Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, and Frederick Douglass, and honors several Patriots of the Year. Dozens of lesson plans are available on-line for educators. Leah and Judge Warren also produce a local cable program – Patriot Lessons – which is capable of national distribution – with over 150 episodes and counting. The Patriot Lessons: American History & Civics Podcast has tens of thousands of plays.

The Patriot Week 9th Annual Patrick Henry awards will take place Thursday, March 24, 2022, beginning at 5:30pm followed by dinner and awards at 6:30pm- 9pm at The San Marino Club - 1685 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083.

There is a special guest speaker, George Washington!!
The highlights this year are the honorees: Hillsdale College, Michigan Supreme Court, Justice Brian Zahra, and VETLIFE with founder, Joshua Parish.

Patrick Henry Awards Honorees 2022

Learning, character, faith, and freedom: these are the inseparable purposes of Hillsdale College. Hillsdale College is a small, Christian, classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan that operates independently of government funding. Our students represent each of the fifty states and more than a dozen foreign countries, and drawn to the challenge of a Hillsdale education, they grow in heart and mind by studying timeless truths in a supportive community dedicated to the highest things.

Justice Brian K. Zahra was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the Michigan Supreme Court on January 14, 2011.

Justice Zahra has served on many professional and legislative committees, including the Michigan Civil Jury Instructions Committee, the Circuit Court Appellate Rules Committee, the Domestic Violence Legislation Implementation Task Force, and the advisory committee for the Michigan Judicial Institute Domestic Violence Benchbook.

In 2021, Justice Zahra was appointed chair of the Justice for All Commission, which is a diverse group of state leaders and access to justice advocates. This commission is working to substantially improve access to the civil justice system. He also serves as the Supreme Court’s liaison to Michigan Business Courts, which currently operate within 17 circuit courts.
Justice Zahra taught as a Senior Fellow of Law and Public Policy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus, and is currently a Distinguished Fellow at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. He previously served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Detroit-Mercy Law School and the Michigan State School of Law.

Justice Zahra has been active in many civic and charitable organizations, including Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Kiwanis Club International, Leadership Detroit, the Knights of Columbus, the Maltese American Community Club, and the Maltese American Benevolent Society, of which he is a past officer.

Joshua Parish is an Iraq War Veteran whose greatest passion is helping veterans when they transition into civilian life and giving them the best opportunity to be successful and is the founder of VETLIFE. VETLIFE is a nonprofit organization formed by veteran families for veteran families. The organization was born out of our own struggles after leaving the military. We became painfully aware of so many other veterans who were facing the same struggles. The large number of veterans unaware of benefits and the rising number of veteran suicides really bothered us, so we formed a nonprofit organization with the purpose of promoting a safer, healthier, and prosperous civilian lifestyle. This is how the name "VETLIFE" came to fruition. VETLIFE is about living your best life after the military. We provide veterans with a network of sustainable solutions and resources to improve the quality of civilian life.

The Patriot Week Foundation achieved its 501(c)(3) status in December 2012 and has moved forward by building a sustainable, nonpartisan organization. Currently staffed with an Operations Manager and Education Consultant, the Patriot Week Foundation will be adding to its complement of talent shortly.

For More Information, attend the dinner or sponsorship: www.patriotweek.org