Some of my favorite Lincoln books in honor of my favorite president’s birthday.

Ready for Monday Night Football! #HereWeGoSteelers!

Had a great time marching in the Remembrance Day Parade today! My SUVCW Camp, Isaac Eaton #504 the conducted a memorial service for our namesake and his comrade Alonzo McCall.

Had the chance to attend a wonderful ceremony conducted by Washington Camp #120 and Geo. Cribbs Camp #276 of the SUVCW dedicating a marker to 13 United States Colored Troops who served during the Civil War and are buried in unmarked graves at Payne Chapel AME Cemetery in Canonsburg, PA.

A waterfall with rocks and trees

Hells Hollow Waterfall

My family and I at Hells Hollow Waterfall at McConnels Mill State Park

Had a great time hiking at McConnells Mill State Park this evening! #PAStateParks #hiking #waterfall #McConnellsMillStatePark

John Brown's Fort

Burnside's Bridge

Sign at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Sign at the entrance of Monocacy National Battlefield

Had an amazing time exploring some of Maryland and West Virginia's Civil War sites this weekend. We visited Harpers Ferry, the South Mountain Battlefields, Antietam National Battlefield, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, and Monocacy National Battlefield.

Laptop displaying homework with a hammock and woods in the background.

Homework hammock? Homework hammock!

I’d rather not put Spirit Airlines in charge of preventing the next 9/11.

Thank you!

They’re my favorite by far, history and politics.

Thank you!

New bookshelf setup, no more books stacked on the floor or top of the shelf for this guy. #booksky

all right then. it's official, ryan day can stay one more year

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."🗃️

John Brown’s Last Speech Performed by David Strathairn YouTube video by ZinnEdProject

On this day in 1859, John Brown was executed, he gave this speech a month before on the final day of his trial.

His body may be mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on...

I had the honor of carrying the SUVCW Department of Pennsylvania flag in the parade, it was sad to see so many people with rebel flags along the route.

Men dressed in Union Civil War uniforms carry SUVCW Department flags while marching down a street.

Had a great time marching in the Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade yesterday I had the honor carrying the SUVCW Department of Pennsylvania Flag. We also participated in two ceremonies honoring the sacrifices of the men who fought for Union and freedom.

I can’t help but have faith that Americans who love freedom and democracy will emerge victorious and that we will make it through this together.

I take heart in the fact that throughout history there have always been Americans who fought for the freedom of others, from the patriots to the abolitionists to those who gave their lives fighting fascism, to those who protested peacefully for Civil Rights.

…but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

I find myself drawn to the words that Thomas Paine wrote in December of 1776 when the very idea of an American democracy was very much in doubt. “These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country…

I am increasingly disappointed in those I see who have given up and say they hope that America gets what it deserves.

It’s going to be a rough four years, but the fight for freedom and our democracy is not over. Though I am heartbroken by the results of the election, what they mean for America’s standing in the world, and for the future for my wife and daughter, I still love my country and won’t give up on it.

It’s taken me a while to gather my thoughts since the election so here’s a thread of my post election thoughts:

…but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

I find myself drawn to the words that Thomas Paine wrote in December of 1776 when the very idea of an American democracy was very much in doubt. These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country…

I got into my first choice grad school! Starting Spring 2025 I will be attending George Washington University online pursuing a Masters degree in Homeland Security. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my AMAZING wife @cassieholsopple.bsky.social
#GoRevs #GWU

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin gives a thumbs up.

Been a rough week, but at least the Steelers won! #HereWeGo #Steelers