Changes

[[File:Abraham Lincoln by John Wesley Jarvis 1861.jpg|thumb|[[Abraham Lincoln]] by John Wesley Jarvis, 1861.]]

[[File:Abraham Lincoln by John Wesley Jarvis 1861.jpg|thumb|[[Abraham Lincoln]] by John Wesley Jarvis, 1861.]]

An '''American Patriot''' is traditionally thought of as one who fights and dies for -- and loves -- their country. [[America]]'s [[Founding Fathers]] were American patriots: [[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], [[James Madison]], the signers of the [[Declaration of Independence]] were American patriots. Many of our great presidents, [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Calvin Coolidge]], [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Ronald Reagan]] were American patriots. A number of American Patriots were politicians and legislatures. Among these was conservative Dem. Cong. [[Larry McDonald]], the only U.S. sitting congressman reported killed by the Soviets when they shot down [[KAL 007]].

An '''American Patriot''' is traditionally thought of as one who fights and dies for -- and loves -- their country. [[America]]'s [[Founding Fathers]] were American patriots: [[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], [[James Madison]], the signers of the [[Declaration of Independence]] were American patriots. Many of our great presidents, [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Calvin Coolidge]], [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Ronald Reagan]] were American patriots. A number of American Patriots were politicians and legislatures. Among these was conservative Dem. Cong. [[Larry McDonald]], the only U.S. sitting congressman reported killed by the Soviets when they shot down [[KAL 007]].

The [[American Patriots Association]] sums up the term patriot very well:

The [[American Patriots Association]] sums up the term patriot very well:

{{cquote|You do not have to be a [[President of the United States|President]] to be an American patriot. One of the greatest American patriots in modern times was the [[Martin Luther King, Jr.|Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.]] who was a leader in the [[Civil Rights movement]]. Those soldiers who served our nation during two [[World War]]s, during the [[Korean War]], during the [[Vietnam War]], during the [[Cold War]], in all our nation's struggles were patriots.  One of these would be [[Rosa Parks]] who refused to give up her seat, an action which sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, she like [[Susan B. Anthony]], was a patriot.

{{cquote|You do not have to be a [[President of the United States|President]] to be an American patriot. One of the greatest American patriots in modern times was the [[Martin Luther King, Jr.|Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.]] who was a leader in the [[Civil Rights movement]]. Those soldiers who served our nation during two [[World War]]s, during the [[Korean War]], during the [[Vietnam War]], during the [[Cold War]], in all our nation's struggles were patriots.  One of these would be [[Rosa Parks]] who refused to give up her seat, an action which sparked the [[Montgomery Bus Boycott]], she like [[Susan B. Anthony]], was a patriot.

What do all these American patriots have in common? What belief and values qualify them as American patriots? Perhaps it is the fact they love their country, they honor the American flag and the Republic for which it stands, and they believe in the ideal of liberty and justice for all!

What do all these American patriots have in common? What belief and values qualify them as American patriots? Perhaps it is the fact they love their country, they honor the American flag and the Republic for which it stands, and they believe in the ideal of liberty and justice for all!