Discover the Difference an
Oak Hill Academy Education Makes
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Friday, May 14, 2021
at 9:00 am
• Experience a pictorial tour
• Hear from school leaders
• Question and answer session
• Pre-registration required on school website
32 APRIL 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
Grades PreK – 8
347 Middletown · Lincroft Road · Lincroft, NJ 07738
732.530.1343 · www.oakhillacademy.com
Limited Openings for September 2021
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on the Anniversary of His Birthday
BY LORI DRAZ AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER LILLIAN BURRY
Thomas Jefferson was third president of the United States and the
principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He served as
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president under John Adams. Jefferson’s fervent belief in democracy,
republicanism and religious freedom are felt each day in the liberties
all Americans enjoy.
During his presidency, Jefferson doubled the size of the country
after orchestrating the Louisiana Purchase and launched the Lewis and
Clark expeditions to explore the lands west of the Mississippi. He signed
the act that prohibited the importation of slaves. He waged war against
the Barbary pirates. After retiring from public life, Jefferson founded the
University of Virginia.
Jefferson was a true renaissance man. He was a farmer, a naturalist
and a devotee of ornithology (the study of birds) and oenology (the study
of wine and wine making). He was considered a gourmet cook and was
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including English, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Latin. He was an
astronomer, architect and lawyer.
Jefferson is one of the four presidents sculpted on Mount Rushmore,
along with Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 and died on July 4, 1826, on the
50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
County Commissioner and respected historian Lillian Burry has long
been recognized as an admirer of the third President of the United States.
She wrote the following in commemoration of Jefferson’s birthday.
“Thomas Jefferson, where are you? I often wonder where ingenuity,
intelligence, curiosity, patriotism, dedication and education are lurking.
Here is a man who epitomized every one of these virtues, who practiced
each with a sincerity that put him a level or two above the average man.
“This has been my opinion since I was a little girl. Through my
elementary and high school years, I read and learned more about him.
Majoring in history in college, my convictions were sealed that Thomas
Jefferson was a man for his time, most assuredly, but more than that,
for all time.
“You can go through the alphabet citing the Virginian’s talents…
astronomer, architect, culinary expert, economist, farmer, paleontologist,
stargazer, traveler, university founder, wine connoisseur, and writer,
to name a few.
“We observe Thomas Jefferson’s birthday on April 13, celebrating
the day he was born at Shadwell, Virginia, a British subject. But it appears
Mr. Jefferson himself did not believe in celebrating his own birthday. It
appears he discouraged any public observances throughout his life. That
point was made vividly clear in 1803, while he was president, and others
wanted to celebrate the day with proper respect. He respectfully, but
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memorate is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.’ Continuing,
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veneration for the great birthday of our republic, to any individual, or of
dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday
be known, and have engaged my family not to communicate it.’
“Four years after Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, Virginia Congressman
John Roane declared that both the Fourth of July and the 13th of
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son's birthday was held April 13, 1830, at the Indian Queen Tavern in
Washington, with Congressman Roane presiding over a party with more
than 150 attendees.
“Happy Birthday, Mr. Jefferson. We all need to celebrate your natal
day and the birth you gave to our nation.”
/TheJournalNJ.com
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