"We gather here on this beautiful
morning to pay our respects for the many sacrifices made on this ground.
223 years ago, the day may have been just as clear as today but the activity
here was very different. Moving into position the day before, Patriot
forces were poised for action. The British attacked the next day, as
expected, and a battle raged for two and one half hours. The Americans
finally disengaged and left the field. Both sides claimed victory.
Both sides sustained heavy losses - particularly the British.
The Guilford
Courthouse Battle climaxed the winter campaign of 1781. It was another
very costly battle to the British war in the south: the King's Mountain defeat
in October, the rout at the Cowpens in January and now the Guilford Courthouse
debacle.
The British
marched from this place almost immediately, having claimed victory but
their commander was quoted to say, "If we have more victories like this, there
won't be an Army."
The ground
here - the earth you are standing upon, is hallowed soil. Our ancestors
made a valiant stand here. This place was consecrated in their blood,
sweat and tears here. Here is where our freedom was won. So let us
never forget how freedom was bought and who paid the cost for it.
On behalf of
the North Carolina Society, Sons of the American Revolution, I welcome you to
this beautiful national park, sacred to the memory of those responsible for
establishing one nation under God with liberty and justice for all."
Joe Harris, Senior Vice
President, North Carolina Society SAR
(the background of this text is a picture of the
Carolina Blue sky on the day of the ceremonies)