Prayers, Pageantry Mark Freedom Day Celebrations 03/18/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD--Fireworks, parades, speeches, and prayers marked this year’s
tribute to Devlin Stone at the annual Freedom Day celebrations. The holiday, long
endorsed by the Republican government--but made official only after Stone’s
retirement from his post as Exarch fewer than three years ago--has become one of
the nation’s most patriotic, heaping praise on the man credited with rescuing the Inner
Sphere from the fires of the Word of Blake Jihad. But whereas prior Freedom Day
celebrations have been upbeat, this year’s celebrations, marred by the ongoing crises
across The Republic, were tinged by an undercurrent of solemn reflection.
“He was a savior, a saint, and a soldier--all in one,” said Legate Jonathan Jurik, who
personally presided over the morning parades in Port Howard. “His wisdom brought
us peace like we have never seen, and prosperity like we have never known.”
Freedom Day marks the historic beginning of Devlin Stone’s campaign to defeat the
Word of Blake forces during their Jihad against the Inner Sphere. The Jihad, already
in its third year at the time, plunged virtually all of humanity into the most brutal
warfare seen since the Amaris crisis, with tens of millions killed annually in a brutal
series of ’Mech clashes, nuclear strikes, biochemical attacks, and WarShip assaults.
Though the Jihad was waged largely around Terra itself, the seat of the Blakists’
power at the time, even the most far-flung states felt the wrath of the techno-zealots.
Stone’s 18 March 3071 escape from the Divine Light Reeducation Camp on Kittery,
for which Freedom Day is celebrated, was the turning point of the war.
In 3086, Senator Leslie Brahe, an ardent supporter of Stone and The Republic,
proposed the creation of a national holiday commemorating Stone’s birth. But because
the Exarch himself claimed he did not know the date, and would not condone a day of
celebration in his honor, Brahe instead launched a grassroots campaign to establish
Freedom Day in its place. The holiday won immediate acceptance on more than two-
thirds of all Republic worlds, with local governments choosing their own traditions to
honor their beloved leader. By 3100, there was not a world in The Republic that did
not observe Freedom Day in one way or another, and even some of The Republic’s
neighbors adopted the holiday.
With the formal creation of Freedom Day as a Republic-wide holiday in 3131, Exarch
Redburn approved an official set of holiday traditions that are now familiar on every
world. Parades honoring those who helped fight for The Republic’s creation and
survival, as well as those who still serve it every day--such as doctors and fire and
police officials--kick off the morning celebrations, while speeches and special tri-vid
programming dominate the afternoon. At night, a special laser and fireworks show
lights up the skies, and celebrity musicians express the joy of a people freed from
tyranny.
This year’s commemorations, however, were more low-key than usual, not just in
Port Howard, but in cities all across The Republic. Darkened by the HPG crash and
left uncertain by the military crises that seem to have affected every prefecture in The
Republic, today’s celebrations were tempered with quiet reflection. Jurik had the
following to say during closing remarks this morning:
“We are all in this together, as we have been all along. Though we find ourselves now
in an uncertain time, we must never forget that men like Devlin Stone can be found
every day in the hearts and minds of those he touched. If we are to honor his memory
and his dream, we must all remember that the price of freedom--and of peace--is
eternal vigilance and the resolve to be the best we can be, both to ourselves and to one
another. Let us therefore pray that the peace and prosperity we all knew under Devlin
Stone’s benevolent rule will soon return.”
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD--Fireworks, parades, speeches, and prayers marked this year’s
tribute to Devlin Stone at the annual Freedom Day celebrations. The holiday, long
endorsed by the Republican government--but made official only after Stone’s
retirement from his post as Exarch fewer than three years ago--has become one of
the nation’s most patriotic, heaping praise on the man credited with rescuing the Inner
Sphere from the fires of the Word of Blake Jihad. But whereas prior Freedom Day
celebrations have been upbeat, this year’s celebrations, marred by the ongoing crises
across The Republic, were tinged by an undercurrent of solemn reflection.
“He was a savior, a saint, and a soldier--all in one,” said Legate Jonathan Jurik, who
personally presided over the morning parades in Port Howard. “His wisdom brought
us peace like we have never seen, and prosperity like we have never known.”
Freedom Day marks the historic beginning of Devlin Stone’s campaign to defeat the
Word of Blake forces during their Jihad against the Inner Sphere. The Jihad, already
in its third year at the time, plunged virtually all of humanity into the most brutal
warfare seen since the Amaris crisis, with tens of millions killed annually in a brutal
series of ’Mech clashes, nuclear strikes, biochemical attacks, and WarShip assaults.
Though the Jihad was waged largely around Terra itself, the seat of the Blakists’
power at the time, even the most far-flung states felt the wrath of the techno-zealots.
Stone’s 18 March 3071 escape from the Divine Light Reeducation Camp on Kittery,
for which Freedom Day is celebrated, was the turning point of the war.
In 3086, Senator Leslie Brahe, an ardent supporter of Stone and The Republic,
proposed the creation of a national holiday commemorating Stone’s birth. But because
the Exarch himself claimed he did not know the date, and would not condone a day of
celebration in his honor, Brahe instead launched a grassroots campaign to establish
Freedom Day in its place. The holiday won immediate acceptance on more than two-
thirds of all Republic worlds, with local governments choosing their own traditions to
honor their beloved leader. By 3100, there was not a world in The Republic that did
not observe Freedom Day in one way or another, and even some of The Republic’s
neighbors adopted the holiday.
With the formal creation of Freedom Day as a Republic-wide holiday in 3131, Exarch
Redburn approved an official set of holiday traditions that are now familiar on every
world. Parades honoring those who helped fight for The Republic’s creation and
survival, as well as those who still serve it every day--such as doctors and fire and
police officials--kick off the morning celebrations, while speeches and special tri-vid
programming dominate the afternoon. At night, a special laser and fireworks show
lights up the skies, and celebrity musicians express the joy of a people freed from
tyranny.
This year’s commemorations, however, were more low-key than usual, not just in
Port Howard, but in cities all across The Republic. Darkened by the HPG crash and
left uncertain by the military crises that seem to have affected every prefecture in The
Republic, today’s celebrations were tempered with quiet reflection. Jurik had the
following to say during closing remarks this morning:
“We are all in this together, as we have been all along. Though we find ourselves now
in an uncertain time, we must never forget that men like Devlin Stone can be found
every day in the hearts and minds of those he touched. If we are to honor his memory
and his dream, we must all remember that the price of freedom--and of peace--is
eternal vigilance and the resolve to be the best we can be, both to ourselves and to one
another. Let us therefore pray that the peace and prosperity we all knew under Devlin
Stone’s benevolent rule will soon return.”
| March 18, 3133 |