By Col. Rob Maness for THRIVE NEWS
As a young boy, I learned about the courage of early American heroes, but later learned that moral courage has greater requirements and demands a deeper commitment.
At the age of seven, I distinctly remember standing on the courthouse steps in Jackson, Tennessee, the area where the legendary pioneer-statesman-soldier David “Davy” Crockett was from. Crockett served in Congress twice and lost the second time chiefly because President Andrew Jackson — another Tennessee legend — didn’t like that Crockett opposed his forced removal of Native Americans, with Crockett standing against the Trail of Tears.
Although my dad was in the Air Force, he always made sure we spent at least four weeks a year in West Tennessee. During our regular family visits, my Uncle “Buddy” would take me under his wing and walk me around to learn about family, service and lost lessons for so many in the next generations.
On one particular trip, Uncle Buddy led me up the courthouse steps. The scene was classic Southern: courthouse in the middle, streets all around, storefronts lining the square. He pointed to a spot and said, “Roby, I want you to know that right here is where Davy Crockett said, ‘Y’all can all go to hell — I’m going to Texas.’” That sticks with a kid. Of course, I later learned, Crockett died defending Texans from the Mexican invasion at the Alamo. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
