Project 351

Each year, we honor a Fallen Hero as Service Hero, in reverence for their courageous service and sacrifice. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we dedicate this tribute to Crispus Attucks, the first man to die for the cause of American independence.

Attucks is believed to have been born around 1723 in Framingham to Prince Yonger, an enslaved person from Africa, and Nancy Attucks, a Natick Indian. Accounts describe Attucks’ escape from slavery and skill as whaler and sailor in pre-Revolutionary Boston.

In 1770, a growing presence of British military stoked tensions between the soldiers and colonists in Boston. On March 5th, that confrontation erupted in violence -- five colonists were killed, with Attucks the first to fall. The Boston Massacre -- and the courage of these five men -- inspired patriotic fervor and deepened the colonists' resolve in their quest for independence.

As we celebrate this historic Fourth, we honor Crispus Attucks and the valor of every Fallen Hero. With great pride, Achraf Boukirou of Revere leads the Crispus Attucks Service Hero Team comprised of these amazing Ambassadors:

John • Athol
Alexander • Framingham
Zoey-Mae • Heath
Vivian• Melrose
Katherine • New Bedford
Collin • Peabody
Taryn • Princeton
Layla • Wales

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"E pluribus unum."
Out of many, one.
~ motto on the Great Seal of the United States

Happy Fourth of July!

Today, we honor the transformative power of an idea and ideal -- 250 years of our democracy -- and the extraordinary courage and vision of our founders.

Facing tyranny and oppression by mighty Great Britain, an assembly of colonists -- without vast resources or a formal military -- sought freedom.

These Founding Fathers and Mothers dreamed of liberty and opportunity, and embraced unity as their path forward. Out of 13 colonies they became one: e pluribus unum. And, through signatures on the page that would serve as blueprint for America -- they declared their independence.

That mighty document -- our Declaration of Independence offered a vision -- but not a guarantee: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."

Today we are reminded of our individual and collective responsibility to deliver on the promise so beautifully articulated 250 years ago. We recognize that we've not yet achieved the fullness of our nation's ideals and lean forward with a relentless idealism that indeed...we can.

We call it A Revolution of Love:

We’re revolutionaries on the rise.
Bridge builders in the face of divide.
Quiet voices leading thunderous change.
Shared humanity for common gain.
Architects of a community we call Beloved.
We're 35ONE, our strength is one another.

And so, we celebrate the Fourth with love-in-action! By committing our energy and effort to this extraordinary nation; imperfect but ever striving.

And by asserting our faith in all that we can achieve when we lead with love, serve with compassion, and build bridges with audacious hope!

Happy Fourth!
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