— Richard Branson
Soon we will be voting for president of the United States of America. In the past, we’ve had some great presidents, and I’d like to reflect on a couple of our country’s greatest leaders.
In middle school, my favorite subject was studying about the rugged pioneer spirit that allowed men and women to carve a great nation out of the wilderness. We all know that George Washington was the first president of the United States, the commander in chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and one of the Founding Fathers. Of course, George Washington is the first to come to mind. He is known as the father of our country. Washington served as president from 1789 to 1797.
History has taught us how the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, emerged from Valley Forge trained and ready to fight the enemy.
Washington’s army suffered many hardships, including rough winters with not enough food and clothing. The soldiers and their commander suffered physically and mentally, they were exhausted and demoralized. Washington’s energy, grit and strong will kept the army and our country together. He was determined to defeat one of the world’s superpowers and be free of British tyranny.
Washington was just one of many men and women who helped push the United States forward, making us a great nation.
The first president that I remember is Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. I met him in person when he visited the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. My father’s store, the Kittery Fruit Co., was at the entrance of the shipyard. The president’s car stopped for a Coke. My father went out and served him the drink. My father was happy because he admired President Roosevelt. The president was a powerful figure in history.
My father read several newspapers a day and had strong political opinions. I can see him debating with his friends. That was the beginning of my interest in presidents and our government.
The life of Franklin D. Roosevelt is a compelling story. As a young man, he was tall, handsome, brilliant and wealthy. In 1921, after a swim, he was diagnosed with polio. He would never walk again without the help of braces. I always think of him as being in a wheelchair.
The 88-degree natural spring water at Warm Spring, Georgia, eased his physical pain. Roosevelt’s suffering helped turn him into the man he needed to be to help the suffering during the Great Depression, caused by the crash of the stock market in 1929. The depression affected so many, put people out of work and led to long bread lines by people who didn’t have enough to eat. FDR’s New Deal brought relief to people and led to many of the programs we still have today, like Social Security, that help people.
Hopefully, whoever is elected in November will rise to the challenges of the current time and be remembered like Washington and FDR for following a course of action that moves our nation forward.
— Zaffie Hadiaris of Saco is the host of “Zaffie,” a weekly television talk show on Channel 3 Biddeford public access. It can also be seen at biddefordmaine.org. Contact Zaffie at zhadiaris@hotmail.com.
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