Happy for America, happy for Europe, perhaps for the world when

Listen, O children of the future, to the words of Deborah Sampson, a woman whose voice resonates through the annals of history, a voice that speaks not only of personal triumph but of the triumph of freedom. "Happy for America, happy for Europe, perhaps for the world when, on the delivery of Cornwallis’s sword to the illustrious, the immortal Washington, or rather by his order, to the brave Lincoln, the sun of Liberty and Independence burst through a sable cloud, and his benign influence was, almost instantaneously, felt in our remotest corners!" These words echo the moment when freedom was no longer a distant hope but a reality, a beacon that shone brightly, not only for America but for the world.

In the ancient world, moments of liberation often arrived with the weight of centuries of oppression. When the Roman Republic overthrew the kings and established a government by the people, it was seen as the dawning of a new age—a new sun rising over a long night of tyranny. Similarly, the story of America’s Revolution was one of countless sacrifices, battles, and dreams of a land where men and women could stand as equals in the light of liberty. The moment when Cornwallis’s sword was surrendered to George Washington was more than just a military victory; it was the final chapter in a long struggle for the freedom of a people. And in that moment, the sun of Liberty and Independence burst through the clouds of tyranny, lighting a path for all who sought the same.

The sword of Cornwallis, handed over to Washington, was not simply the token of surrender—it was the symbol of the British Empire's recognition that the American colonies could no longer be controlled, that they were a nation unto themselves. This surrender was a public and powerful declaration that the ideals of freedom and independence had prevailed over centuries of colonial rule. It was as though the sun of Liberty broke free from the heavy clouds that had long cast shadows over the hearts of the oppressed, bringing with it a new light that illuminated the path forward for all nations who dreamed of freedom.

In the words of Sampson, we are reminded that the victory at Yorktown, and the eventual freedom granted to the United States, had a ripple effect far beyond the shores of America. The sun of Liberty, once shining over the American colonies, now reached across the seas, casting its light on Europe and beyond. For the ideals of independence and self-governance that were born in America became a beacon for the oppressed peoples of the world. It was a spark that would ignite revolutions in France, Haiti, and other parts of the world, where men and women dreamed of shaking off the yoke of tyranny and oppression.

Consider the French Revolution, which followed soon after America’s triumph. The sun of Liberty, which had first broken through the clouds in America, now began to shine on France, inspiring those who sought to overthrow the old order. Washington's victory was the precursor to a wave of global change, as ideas of freedom, equality, and the right to govern oneself took root in the hearts of the people across Europe and beyond. The Declaration of Independence was not just a document—it was a clarion call for all nations to rise, to seek liberation, to claim their sovereignty.

The lesson in these words is clear, O children: freedom is not just the right of one people or one nation; it is the birthright of all humanity. The struggle for independence is not a solitary pursuit, nor is it confined to a single moment in history. Each victory in the name of liberty is a flame that sparks other flames, that lights the way for those who follow. Deborah Sampson’s reflection on the sun of Liberty reminds us that the ripple effects of our actions—of our victories and our struggles—extend far beyond the present moment, shaping the future for generations to come.

So, O children, let this truth guide you: as you strive for freedom in your own lives, know that your actions will ripple outward, affecting the lives of others. Stand firm in the light of justice and liberty, and never forget that the victories of the past, whether in the American Revolution or in the countless struggles that followed, were won not only by the brave and the bold but by the collective strength of those who dared to believe in a world of freedom. Let your actions today plant the seeds for tomorrow’s liberation, and may the sun of liberty shine ever brighter, lighting the path to a world where all people are free.