While at Plymouth, staying at the homestead, President and Mrs. Coolidge paid their respects at the graves of their son, Calvin Jr. (who died in July of 1924 at the age of 16) and the President’s father (he died in Plymouth on March 18, 1926). (Hall, p. 293) The train moved them through Vermont and at the last stop in Vermont before leaving the state, Calvin spoke. Obviously moved by his memories and visits with friends and relatives, he spoke from the heart.
Vermont is a state I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield, and Equinox, without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me. It was here that I first saw the light of day; here I received my bride, here my dead lie pillowed on the loving breast of our eternal hills.
I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the Union, and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.
Suds: what a great post. To know VT is, certainly, to love VT. I never even knew that President Coolidge spoke more than 3 words at a time. Not only is it nice to remind us of what a beautiful state it is, but in this time of constant, endless political BS (and I do not mean “good” BS!), you have reminded me of a story my Grandpa used to tell me a LONG time ago about President Coolidge, a man of notoriously few words:
Coming out of church one Sunday, the President was accosted by the media (even back then). They asked him many questions, the only one of which he replied to was:
Q: “Mr. President, what did the preacher preach about?”
A: “Sin”
Q (reporter exasperated by the one word answer): “Mr, President, what did the preacher SAY about sin?”
A: “He’s against it”
President Coolidge then left without saying anything else 🙂
Awesome post suds. Always been interested in Coolidge and dragged shelly girl to the homestead once upon a time. My favorite Quote is something to the tune of ” I never got in trouble for something. I didn’t say” .perhaps more timely for this weekend “nothing can take the place of persistence…” hope to see you up there this weekend and good luck at Ascutney!
Lefty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_Little_State_of_Vermont_speech