<big>'''On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in "The Cause." We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.'''<br /> <br />
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'''Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that "try men's souls."'''<br /><br />
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'''In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington's Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.'''<br /><br />
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'''Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.</big> <small>--Newt Gingrich'''</small>