THE TIME HAS COME
Many times on this blog I have celebrated the lives and sacrifices of Bobby Sands and the nine other men who lost their lives in a hunger strike in 1981.
There is only one monument to the heroism of these men in the United States and it is in Hartford, CT. We want to create one in Providence, RI to be sure that the deaths of these heroic men are never forgotten.
Dear Friends of Irish Freedom,
The spring and summer of 1981 witnessed the slow and painful deaths of ten invincible Irish patriots. Led by Bobby Sands, these men began Hunger Strikes to demonstrate their refusal of the British government attempt to criminalizetheir armed revolt against hundreds of years of tyranny in Ireland. Displaying the support of the Irish people, while on Hunger Strike, Bobby Sands was elected as a Member of Parliament. More than 40 years have passed since those tragic events and the English government still has not implemented the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The deaths of these men inspired protests all over the world. Sinn Fein began holding political office and has reached a current position of strength in Ireland.
The 1916 Committee plans to memorialize the sacrifice of the Hunger Strikers and keep their names and brutal deaths in our historic memory by raising a monument to them at the site of the Irish FamineMemorial. A simple bronze plaque, mounted on granite stone, will proudly enshrine our gratitude. It will read:
In the spring and summer of 1981, ten brave Irishmen fasted to death to fight Britain’s attempt to
criminalize their Irish struggle. The deaths of these ten men, and the international response to it,
caused the British to change this policy and also created the conditions for the armed struggle to evolve
into participation in electoral politics, leading eventually to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
We Honor These Ten Men and Martyrs
“I may die but the Republic of 1916 will never die”
Bobby Sands
BOBBY SANDS MARTIN HURSON
FRANCIS HUGHES KEVIN LYNCH
RAYMOND MCCREESH KIERAN DOHERTY
PATSY O’HARA THOMAS MCELWEE
JOE MCDONNELL MICHAEL DEVINE
The cost of the proposed monument will be 15,000 dollars. We ask all our members, friends and Irish Americans who recognize the sacrifice paid by these ten men, to contribute to the cost of the monument.
Now let's make it personal. We are asking you as individuals to think of the sacrifice that brought these ten men to martyrdom and to ask that you make a small sacrifice to honor them.
We ask that you think about what amount you can give easily and then think of what would push you out of your comfort zone.. If ten dollars is easy for you, why not double it even if that means that you forego some little treat and feel the pinch?
LET'S GET REAL!!
Here are some examples--
Send the cost of the cigarettes that you smoke daily.
Send the cost of the liquor you drink daily.
Send the cost of the lottery tickets or online bets you make daily.
Or maybe skip the daily coffee and doughnut at Dunkin?
Making this small sacrifice for one day will align you spiritually with the sacrifice these men made daily until they died.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Be willing to suffer just a little to honor these brave men who suffered so much for so many days.
All for Irish freedom,
Make checks out to
RI 1916 Committee
PO Box 28321
Providence RI 02908
Thank you in advance for your support.
The Rhode Island 1916 Committee
PS. If this appeal moved you to donate, please forward it to Family and friends in your circle.
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