The Weekly Sam: Alpha Phonics Introduction
This is a video that was used as a promotional video for Sam’s Alpha Phonics. Camp Constitution has hard copies available for purchase on its on-line shop: https://campconstitution.net/product/alpha-phonics-by-sam-blumenfeld/
It is also available in PDF version as well as an on-line version with all 128 lessons in video or audio here: http://blumenfeld.campconstitution.net/
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Evacuation Day March 17
Every year, the Henry Knox Color Guard of the Massachusetts Sons of the Revolution, https://www.massar.org/ , celebrate this important day in our history with a ceremony on Dorchester Heights. This ceremony took place on March 17, 2021. Camp Constitution was on hand:
American Minute with Bill Federer Saint Patrick and the times he lived in: He “…found Ireland all heathen and left it all Christian!”
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Reposted with permission from The American Minute
Today March 5, Marks the Anniversary of the Boston Massacre
Today is the anniversary of what became known as the Boston Massacre where five Bostonians were shot and killed by British soldiers.
In 2020, Camp Constitution attended the 250th anniversary of the Massacre which took place at the Old Granary Burial Ground where the victims are buried. The event was sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution with the Henry Knox Color Guard of the Sons of the American Revolution also on hand for the event.
May their memory always be honored.
Camp Constitution Needs to Replace Its Van. Can You Help?
Last week as I was heading from my home to a speaking engagement when the transmission in our van malfunctioned. I had the vehicle towed to our mechanic in Alton, NH. The van is a 2019 Chrysler Grand Caravan with over 178,000 miles. The mechanic gave us an estimate of between $5,500 to $6,000 to rebuild the transmission, but he recommended that due to the age and mileage of the vehicle, we not spent the money for a repair.
We decided to take his advice and will replace the vehicle. Thankfully, Roberta Stewart, a member of our board of directors, has generously allowed us the use of her truck until she returns to New Hampshire in May. We estimate that the cost to find a suitable replacement will be $30,000+. We have already received a pledge of $1,000.
We are asking our friends and supporters for donations to help cover the cost of a replacement van. Those who are able to help may donation via our PayPal accounted accessed from our website’s homepage: https://campconstitution.net/ or via check payable to Camp Constitution
Those who own a business or manage non-profits can become official Camp Constitution sponsors and be listed as a Camp Sponsor for donations of $100. or more: Camp Sponsors | campconstitution.net
Blessings,
Hal Shurtleff, Director
Camp Constitution
Alton, NH
(A picture of our van in 2019 after having Brice Socha did the signage.)
Honoring the Memory of George Washington
| Today, February 22, 2026, marks the 294th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, who, in this writer’s opinion, was the greatest man born in America. He is rightfully known as the “Father of His Country.” At his funeral, Major General Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee said that Washington was “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Even his enemies had profound respect for him. When King George III heard that Washington planned to resign his commission and return to his farm, he said ‘If he does that ,he will be the greatest man in the world.”
While there are numerous biographies written about this great and good man, I recommend two short books and his “Farewell Address” “Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior” He wrote these 110 rules when he was 16 years old from a set of rules established by French Jesuits in 1595. Here is a sample of those rules: “When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.” |
| “Show Nothing to your Friend that may affright him.” |
| “In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.”
“The Bullet Proof George Washington”: An account of George Washington’s part in the July 9th, 1755, battle during the French and Indian War. During the two-hour battle, the 23-year-old Colonel Washington had ridden on the battlefield, delivering the general’s orders to other officers and troops. The officers had been a special target for the Indians. Of the eighty-six British and American officers, sixty-three were casualties. Washington was the only officer on horseback not shot down. Following the battle, Washington wrote a letter to his brother in which he readily and openly acknowledged: “By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!” Fifteen years later, an old, respected Indian chief sought out Washington. The chief, explaining that he had led the Indians against them in the battle fifteen years earlier, revealed to Washington what had occurred behind the scenes during the conflict: “I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss–’twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we shielded you. Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased to fire at you…I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”
His “Farewell Address”: Washington’s plan to retire from office would come to be known as his “Farewell Address.” In 1792, when Washington considered leaving office, he had James Madison write a draft. In 1796, Alexander Hamilton did a rewrite and Washington edited it. The “American Daily Advertiser,” a paper in Philadelphia, the seat of the nation’s capital at the time, published it on September 19, 1796. Here are a few of the points that have stood the test of time: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain, would man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness” “It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding the exercise of the power of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments into one, and thus create whatever the form of government, a real despotism” and “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” May this generation of Americans endeavor to keep George Washington’s legacy alive.
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The Destino Doctrine: An Introduction Faith, family, and responsibility—the cornerstones of strong communities and a strong country. by Alex Destino, Jr
I grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts — perhaps the most authentic working-class community in the country, where faith, family, loss, and resilience were simply part of life.
I was raised in a large Catholic family with mostly Italian roots, with a little Irish mixed in. As the youngest, I was a little bashful. My father had a larger-than-life personality, and people greeted him wherever we went. In Gloucester — and across Boston’s North Shore — everybody knew him, and they knew all of us. I spent a lot of time at his side, listening and absorbing more than I realized at the time.
I was too young to really know my grandfathers, but their lives were always part of our family story. One was a Gloucester fisherman. The other was a Gloucester police officer.
Both sets of grandparents lived above my father’s business, directly across the street from Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. From our windows, we could see the church every day. We didn’t just attend it — we lived in its shadow. It was where every baptism, every First Communion, every Confirmation, every wedding, and every funeral in our family took place.
My father took a simple idea and turned it into an iconic place in our community. Even today, when I travel and tell people I’m from Gloucester and give them my last name, the first question is often, “Are you related to Destino’s?”
I grew up watching my father run a business that drew people from every part of Gloucester. Gloucester is also a tourist destination, and in the summer the population nearly doubles. That meant we got to know people from all over — a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
People came because they knew what they were getting — good food, fair prices, and a place where nobody put on airs.
Faith, work, and daily life weren’t separate in Gloucester. Many of our customers came straight from Mass across the street, stopping in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. People came and went all day, sitting together, talking, and keeping up with what was happening in their lives and in the city.
Before long, it became a morning routine for local leaders as well. Mayors, city councilors, school committee members, and state representatives were regulars, sitting alongside the same people they represented.
In election years, Senator Ted Kennedy would stop in for a photo. After that, the real conversations continued without the cameras.
The talk was constant—sometimes serious, sometimes heated, often filled with laughter, always real.
As a kid, I listened more than I spoke. Over time, I developed a sense for people — who was real and who wasn’t.
In 1978, when I was twelve years old, faith stopped being something I just went along with. It became something I needed. That was the year three fishing boats from our town were lost at sea. Fourteen men were lost. Close friends of mine lost their fathers. I remember praying when one of the boats was still missing and the search hadn’t been called off yet. It was the first time I really prayed.
In Gloucester, that kind of loss was never distant. It was families you knew. People you saw every day. The same people who came into my father’s place, whose kids you went to school with and hung out with. It brought me closer to my own father and made me realize how fortunate I was to still have him. Most kids my age weren’t thinking about faith. But that year, I started to see why it mattered. When something like that happens, you either turn away or you lean in. I leaned in.
Just last month, with the loss of the Lily Jean and all seven members of her crew, I saw the same thing again — the same grief, the same faith, the same community coming together the way it always has. Moments like this have a way of bringing people back — young and old — to what truly matters. We’ve seen it here in Gloucester. I believe we’re seeing it in many places right now.
Growing up here, those experiences stay with you. Having to lean on your faith in those valleys toughens you and prepares you for what comes next.
I was an athlete in high school and college, which taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to compete. Later, I built a career working with people and relationships, and I was fortunate to learn from great coaches, mentors, and professors who shaped the way I lead today.
My wife and I raised our three children here in Gloucester. We’re proud of all of them. They grew up around the same faith, families, and community that shaped me.
Growing up in Gloucester, you don’t just hear about class and culture—you see it every day. It’s one of the most economically diverse communities you’ll find anywhere.
I saw people who carried real responsibility alongside the so-called elite and credentialed class, many of whom believed their education or status gave them a better understanding of the world. Too often, they underestimated the people who actually keep communities running.
Those experiences shaped how I think about leadership, responsibility, and what truly matters. Over time, they formed what I now call The Destino Doctrine.
This is where I’ll write about faith, leadership, family, community, and the cultural and spiritual challenges facing our country — not from theory, but from lived experience.
My hope is that these reflections encourage people, wherever they are, to lead with courage, take responsibility for the people in their lives, and strengthen the communities around them. If that resonates with you, I hope you’ll follow along. The lessons I learned in Gloucester aren’t unique. They are the same lessons that built this country, and we need them now more than ever.
‘Lives of the Signers” a reprint of a 1848 Classic Back in Stock at Camp Constitution’s On-Line Shop
Help celebrate our 250th Anniversary by learning about the men who risked their lives and signed the Declaration of Independence by learning about them and helping other to learn about them. And, one of the best ways to do that is by reading Lives of the Signers a reprint of an 1848 classic B. J. Lossing. This is a 384 page paperback. The cost is $20. which includes shipping and handling.
A link to order the book: https://campconstitution.net/product/lives-of-the-signers/
Was Mr. Rodgers A Right-Wing Extremist?
Thanks to our friend Vince Ellison, I recently became aware of the song “Everybody’s Fancy” written and performed by the late Fred Rogers who hosted “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” In this song, Mr. Rogers explains that only girls can become mothers and only boys can become fathers.
Here are the lyrics:
Everybody’s Fancy
Written by Fred Rogers
Some are fancy on the outside.
Some are fancy on the inside.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.
Boys are boys from the beginning.
Girls are girls right from the start.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.
Only girls can be the mommies.
Only boys can be the daddies.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.
I think you’re a special person
And I like your ins and outsides.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.
No. Mr. Rogers was not a right-wing extremist. He was a registered Republican who was considered a political moderate. If he were alive today and sang this song on the air, the Cultural Marxists, Big Pharma, and its controlled media would demand that he and his show be cancelled and all that ever supported him publicly denounce him as an evil transphobe. But his message would be embraced by the millions of Americans who reject the madness promoted by the enemies of the United States.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalms 139:14