Happy Birthday, Thomas!
Here’s to your 286th birthday
Over 100 people attended the Florida Veterans for Common Sense 2023 Thomas Paine Party celebrating the legacy of Paine. The celebration was held at the Fogartyville Community & Media Arts Center on Thursday, February 16, 2023.
Each year, FLVCS awards the Thomas Paine Award to a patriot who follows in the legacy of Thomas Paine to defend our democracy and advance the promise of America.
This year’s Thomas Paine Award winner is U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin.
Rep. Raskin was the featured speaker. He spoke on his role as the lead impeachment manager for the second impeachment of President Donald Trump in response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol and his role on the House Select Committee on the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Watch the 2023 Thomas Paine Party Highlights
Thomas Paine’s Legacy
The FLVCS party honors the legacy of Thomas Paine who is credited with turning the American rebellion into the American Revolution for Independence through his best selling political tract, Common Sense. He was the first to use the term United States of America. He wrote The Crisis Papers at the behest of General George Washington. Paine’s call to action rallied the Continental Army troops to continue the fight after the retreat and defeat at New York. Contemporaries noted, “Without the pen of Paine, Washington would have wielded his sword in vain.”
Paine believed in war only as a last resort. He was an entrepreneur while always championing the rights of the poor, enslaved, and downtrodden. Paine was the first to suggest social security. He tolerated all religions and strived to do good to make his fellow citizens happy.
Florida Veterans for Common Sense wishes to thank all of this years’s generous sponsors.
2023 Thomas Paine Party Sponsors
Florida Veterans for Common Sense wishes to thank all of this years’s generous sponsors.
- Jerry Stricker, C.P.A.
- Sarasota County Democratic Party
- Gene & Judy Jones
- Mike & Cynthia Burns
- Eddy & Angela Regnier
- Geoffrey Morris & Anne Taylor
- Kevin Connelly
- Mike Hawkins, C.P.A.
- Terry Root
- Rich & Barbara Scissors
- Paul Sullivan
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