American Heritage
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
American Heritage is the subject of an eloquent speech in a June 1948 episode of The Lone Ranger radio program. The Lone Ranger's nephew, Dan Reid, Jr. asks the famous cowboy crime fighter about American Heritage. The Lone Ranger responds.
Our forefathers were men among whom uncommon valor was a common virtue. Those men have handed down a great heritage which you, and others like you, must protect and preserve. It is the heritage of every American. The Right to live as free people in a land where there is true equality of opportunity.
It is your duty to be eternally vigilant -- prepared at all times to fight those who dare to challenge our way of life. And you must build. It is your duty to make of this a greater nation -- to build homes and farms and villages -- mills, factories and great cities.
Property is the fruit of labor. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is encouragement to industry and enterprise. Abraham Lincoln said: Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another. But let him labor diligently and build one for himself. Thus, by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
You have for your own a great nation -- together with the will -- the heart -- the courage to make it even greater. This is your heritage. This is the heritage of every American.