There are speeches which truly are more than simply the words on the page. Presidents come and go, inaugural speeches are given and soon forgotten, but Lincoln’s second inaugural, 150 years after the end of the Civil War, still resonates. Every day someone somewhere gives a farewell speech, Washington’s army is long gone, but his message touches the soul of any who has ever served. Thomas Paine’s call to action reminds every American that there are times for speech and time for action, that liberty is indeed a precious thing that must be fought for. We hope that the followers of Sentinel will read these speeches and be as inspired and motivated as we are when we read these words. These speeches inspire us even as they humble us when we reflect on both the sacrifice and the intellectual gifts of the speakers. These speeches are demonstrations not simply of great patriots but of gifted writers and orators who have left these powerful examples of their gifts for the ages. We hope that those who read them will be as inspired as we and hope that perhaps they will move you to write and speak with as much fervor and as much talent, and to defend freedom with as much conviction.