The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry captured a blood-stained, bullet-pierced Virginia battle flag at Gettysburg on this date in 1863.
Virginia has been asking for it back for over 100 years.
When asked about it at the @WhiteHouse in 2000, Governor Jesse Ventura said, "Why? I mean, we won. … We took it. That makes it our heritage.”
The previous day, the 1st Minnesota had suffered 82% casualties when they heroically charged headlong into enemy forces to shore up a gap in Union lines. It is not an overstatement to say that their gallantry possibly saved not only the battle, but the war.
Of their sacrifice on July 2nd, General Winfield Scott Hancock said that "no soldiers on any field, in this or any other country ever displayed grander heroism," and insisted that "there is no more gallant deed recorded in history."
In a speech in Cannon Falls, Minnesota on the Fourth of July 1928, President Calvin Coolidge went so far as to say that these men's heroism that day entitled them to the rank of "saviors of their country."
Obama: Imagine if I had done any of this. Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. Imagine if I had said to law firms that were representing parties that were upset with policies my administration had initiated, that you will not be allowed into government buildings. We will punish you economically for dissenting from the Affordable Care Act or the Iran deal. We will ferret out students who protest against my policies.
It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me, or a whole bunch of my predecessors.
“But guys, we don’t even trade with your country”
“Shut the fuck up penguin. Did you even say thank you? We’re tired of you taking advantage of hard working American patriots”
“Believe it or not, George isn't at home. Please leave a message at the beep. I must be out or I'd pick up the phone. Where could I be? Believe it or not, I'm not home.”