A webcast "Thomas Paine's Service During the Revolutionary War"

Thomas Paine was our Greatest Revolutionary era Freethinker and National Hero. The program presented by the Thomas Paine Memorial Association in commemoration of Thomas Paine's birthday. The webcast starts at 5 PM and we will view it as a group in the Columbine A Room at the Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs.
Distinguished Opening Remarks. We hope to have a couple dozen local members to discuss and enjoy the program.
The show will commence with words from Members of Congress Jamie Raskin and Victoria Spartz, with a special appearance from Benjamin Franklin (portrayed by actor Brian Patrick Mulligan).
Keynote Presentation
Acclaimed historian and author Jack Kelly — whose book Tom Paine’s War explores Paine’s firsthand experiences during the Revolution — will deliver a keynote address examining Paine’s military service and enduring relevance. Kelly will cover:
• Paine’s background and rise to prominence
• His Common Sense pamphlet and his influence on the Declaration of Independence
• His service with the Pennsylvania militia and involvement with the Continental Army
• The fall of Fort Washington and Fort Lee
• The march across New Jersey
• The writing of The American Crisis and its impact on the battles of Trenton and Princeton
• Paine’s legacy in modern times
Readings from Paine’s Writings
Award-winning actor Ian Ruskin, known for his one-man show portraying Paine, will perform a dramatic reading from The American Crisis synchronized with a photo slide show of various images of the Paine memorial sculpted by Georg Lober, dedicated in 1950 in Morristown, New Jersey. The statue portrays Paine in the midst of writing The American Crisis during the Revolutionary War — capturing both his intellectual and patriotic courage.
Full details at : https://www.cjonline.com/press-release/story/14777/national-organizations-unite-to-celebrate-thomas-paines-revolutionary-war-service-at-annual-birthdate-event/