  This
“edutaining” program includes new original songs from
Jonathan’s latest award-winning album, More American
Heroes. Moving stories and large photos are included.
Featured heroes are: Susan B. Anthony, Johnny Appleseed, Orville
& Wilbur Wright, Neil Armstrong and Sojourner Truth. The
concert concludes with the inspiring A Better World. |
 SUSAN
B. ANTHONY (1820-1906) was one of the
founders of American feminism. For more than half a century, she
endured threats and ridicule for her tireless quest to reform
the unfair laws that governed women. Crisscrossing the country
at a breathtaking pace well into her eighties, she gave speeches
and supported rallies for women’s rights. She was arrested in
1872 for daring to vote -- an illegal act for a woman. A month
before her death, she finished her last public appearance
declaring “failure is impossible.” Fourteen years later,
women were given the right to vote.
“Men: their rights and nothing more; women: their rights
and nothing less.”
Susan B. Anthony |
 JOHNNY
APPLESEED (1774-1845), whose real name
was John Chapman, planted apple orchards throughout Ohio and
Indiana with seeds he carried from the cider mills of
Pennsylvania. He often gave his seedlings to settlers and is
credited with many extraordinary acts of kindness to people and
animals. The Indians let him wander without harm wherever he
wished, believing him dear to The Great Spirit. Without a gun
and with scarcely any possessions, he lived a simple life in
harmony with nature.
A stone was erected at his probable gravesite in 1916: “He
lived for others.” |
 ORVILLE
& WILBUR WRIGHT (1871-1948)(1867-1912) achieved
one of humanity’s wildest dreams when they flew the first
self-powered airplane. For years these self-taught engineers,
who designed and made bicycles for a living, experienced failure
after failure in the tedious testing of kites and gliders, but
they continued to believe in the impossible -- that humans could
fly. With courage, perseverance, teamwork and faith in the
scientific method, they eventually achieved the dream of flight
on the windy sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.
“When my brother and I began experimenting (with flight) in
1900 it was purely for the pleasure of it. We did not expect to
get back a cent of the money we spent.”
Wilbur
Wright |
 NEIL
ARMSTRONG (1930- ), commander
of the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969, was the first person to
walk on the moon. Learning how to pilot an airplane before he
could drive, his passion for flight led him to push the
frontiers of air and space exploration. His quiet confidence,
burning ambition and willingness to work tirelessly without
complaint enabled him to become an outstanding pilot and
astronaut. A deeply modest and private man, he left the
limelight to become a professor of engineering, considering his
extraordinary achievements to be nothing more than doing his
job.
“That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for
mankind.”
Neil
Armstrong |
 SOJOURNER
TRUTH (1797?-1883) suffered through
slavery until the age of 30. A spellbinding preacher with a
beautiful, powerful singing voice, she became the first black
woman to travel across America denouncing slavery. She was a
simple, honest and deeply religious activist who stood for
freedom and women’s rights. Her poise, self-confidence and
fiery passion made her into an early national symbol for strong
black women.
“I have as much muscle as any man and I can do as much work
as any man... And aren’t I a woman?"
Sojourner Truth |
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