Warm Up:

-Pledge of Allegiance & 5 Core Principals

-Toy Soldiers (x5 IC) – NotMyDay is a Vietnam Veteran.

-Chinooks (x5 IC) – Chinook is a military helicopter

-Goat Dairy Farmer (x5 IC) – NotMyDay grew up on a goat dairy farm. (Hold low squat, move arms like milking a goat)

-Mountain Goats (x5 IC) (Mountain Climbers, and on 4th count, kick feet up like a donkey kick)

(4 exercises for July 4th, 4×5=20)

-SSH (x56 SC) – 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence (56+20=76)

The Thang:

-Mosey To Field Carrying Flag: Flag goes with us entire time, must never touch the ground. If touches ground, everyone does 10 Penalty Burpees…I never saw it touch the ground, so no penalties.

Revolutionary War Dora: Stand in line shoulder-to-shoulder, like Revolutionary soldier firing line…

-Partner Up: Runners carry flag…AYG Sprint= “All You Got” Sprint

PAX 1: AYG Sprint to other end of field (going east towards Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed…, mosey back, carrying flag…

PAX 2: 76 (SC) Merkins (for 1776)

Switch…continue until each PAX does 76 total Merkins, pass flag off to next set of PAX…

PAX 1: AYG Sprint to other end of field, mosey back, carrying flag…

PAX 2: 76 (SC) Squats (for 1876…America’s Centennial)

Switch…continue until each PAX does 76 total WWII’s, pass flag off to next set of PAX…

PAX 1: AYG Sprint to other end of field, mosey back, carrying flag…

PAX 2: 76 (SC) WWII (for 1976…America’s Bi-Centennial)

Switch…continue until each PAX does 76 total Squats, pass flag off to next set of PAX…

PAX 1: AYG Sprint to other end of field, mosey back, carrying flag…

PAX 2: 13 (SC) Burpees (for the 13 Colonies)

Switch…continue until each PAX does 13 Burpees, pass flag off to next set of PAX…

PAX 1: AYG Sprint to other end of field, mosey back, carrying flag…

PAX 2: 7 (IC) No Surrenders (The War for Independence lasted 7 Years)

Switch…continue until each PAX does 7 (IC) No Surrenders, pass flag off to next set of PAX…

(76+76+76+13+7=248, for America’s 248th Birthday)

Move to cones set up in large triangle: Not My Day worked for Triangle Refrigeration Co. for 43 years…

Line up at cone: (Flag to get passed to another PAX after each exercise)

Point 1: 30 (IC) Flutter Kicks brotherhood style (arms linked)

Point 2: 15 (IC) Lunges (30 reps total)

Point 3: 16 (IC) War Hammer (WWII w/ American Hammer at top) (Q calls up, then IC hammer)

(30+30+16=76)

MOT between each cones is Gunners:

-Gunners: Succession of gun firing…hammer, pull trigger, explosion, bullet out of the barrel.

American Hammer (Hammer) – x4 (IC), roll right into High Plank on “Up”

Merkin (x1) on Q call “Down” & “Up” (Trigger Pull)

Burpee (knees to chest & jump) (Explosion)

Sprint (leaving the barrel)…to next cone…

AYG Sprint back to Parking Lot…

Mary

-Plank while Q reads an excerpt from a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776:

John Adams said this of Independence Day: “…will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not.—I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.—Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

(Yes, I do know how to spell, but in 1776 spelling had not been standardized, so I’m quoting the exact spelling from the letter.)

Trivia:

Which two signers of the Declaration of Independence died on the same day, and what was that date?

-Thomas Jefferson & John Adams, July 4th, 1826

-Who was the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence?

-Edward Rutledge (26 Years Old)

-What year was NotMyDay born, and how old was he when Bunyan was born?

-1948, 35 years old

Moleskin

A verse that was arguably George Washington’s favorite verse is Micah 4:4. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. He used this image of “vine & fig tree” often in his correspondence. In a letter to John Quincy Adams on June 25, 1797, he wrote, “I am now…seated under my Vine and Fig-tree; where, while I am permitted to enjoy the shade of it, my vows will be continually offered to the welfare and prosperity of our country; and for the support, ease and honor of the Gentleman to whom the Administration of its concerns are entrusted.

George Washington turned down offers to be King, and offers to hold onto power. He saw the importance of being humble, and having a servant’s heart. He loved his home at Mt. Vernon, and just wanted to go back to his farm and enjoy the shade of his “vine & fig-tree”. But he understood the hard work, the courage, and the faith that it took to fight for Liberty and Freedom. The 56 signers of the Declaration knew by signing, they were signing away their comforts, their livelihoods, and even potentially their lives. They served something outside of themselves, something greater than themselves, and we still to this day benefit from their great leadership example.

The 3rd of F3 is defined as Living Third. The consistent and deliberate placement of oneself third, behind Creator and Community. The last part of the F3 mission statement says “for the invigoration of male community leadership.” You guys put off excuses, get up early, post in the gloom, do the hard things. You know by doing these things, you make yourself better, which makes your family better, which makes your community better, which makes your nation better. Be proud of, and grateful for the men of generations before us, faithful men, and men of great courage, who saw a vision for this nation, and sacrificed so much for it. I’m thankful for them, and I’m thankful for you guys for making me better, and following my lead this morning. I’m thankful for my dad, and all he’s done for me throughout my life, and I want to honor him, and I’m glad we could celebrate his birthday today.

~Bunyan out