IT'S THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, WE ARE CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 200 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH AN EPISODE DEDICATED TO LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION.

THAT INCLUDES A TRIP TO VENICE WHERE THE FLORIDA CITY IS THROWING FESTIVITIES, CELEBRATING THEIR OWN HISTORIC MILESTONE.

AND THEN WE'RE BRINGING YOU SOUTH TO NAPLES WHERE A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM REFLECTS ON AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONFLICTS FROM THE CAMERA LENSES OF ARMY CORPS SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINES AND WHAT 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION DOES NOT REFLECT ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

WE REVISIT OUR CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE CREATORS BEHIND KEN BURNS, EPIC DOCUMENTARY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN HISTORY STORIES THAT WERE THOUGHT LOST TO TIME.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

IT WAS 250 YEARS AGO IN 17.

76 WHEN THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS FORMALLY ADOPTED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ANNOUNCE THAT THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES OR A NEW INDEPENDENT NATION AS PART OF OUR LOOK INTO AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE KEY MOMENTS THAT HELPED DEFINE THE COUNTRY.

THAT INCLUDES THE ASSORTMENT OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE NATION.

EACH BRINGING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE TO THE WHOLE OF AMERICA.

MANY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR OWN BILES STONES, INCLUDING THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CITY OF VENICE.

THEY ARE HONORING THEIR OWN 100 YEARS AS WGC.U REPORTER JAN TO PARK LEARNED UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND WILL SHOWCASE ITS OWN RICH HISTORY.

>> AS RESIDENTS IN VENICE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY.

THE CITY IS ALSO COMMEMORATING ITS OWN ONE 100TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND, BOTH MILESTONES ARE BEING COMBINED INTO ONE BIG EVENT.

AT THE VENICE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES, HISTORICAL MANAGER HARRY KLINKHAMMER HAS CURATED THE CENTENNIAL DISPLAY.

>> WITH GREAT CARE.

BUT THIS IS A SMALL CITY, BUT IT'S GOT A BIG HISTORY.

AND AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT VENICE COULD ALSO BE THE POSTER CHILD FOR FLORIDA HISTORY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LAND ROOM THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 1920'S THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.

THAT'S HOW THE U.S.

GOT ITS START.

>> THE MUSEUM'S SPECIAL EXHIBIT FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH DECADE, INCLUDING A SPOTLIGHT ON JULIET COUSINS LEANING WHO WAS THE CITY'S MAY TREND UNTIL HER PASSING 2 YEARS AGO.

SHE CAME HERE WITH HER FAMILY IN 1926.

>> WHEN THE CITY WAS FOUNDED, SHE WAS JUST 4.

HER DAD WOULD GO ON TO COME.

MAYOR OF VENICE, HER MOM WOULD GO ON TO MANAGE A BOARDING HOUSE, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY THIS BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

IN JULIA AFTER GROWING UP IN GOING AWAY FOR COLLEGE.

RETIRED BACK HERE AND BECAME A MAJOR PHILANTHROPIST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> 100 YEARS LATER, THE CITY'S POPULATION IS AROUND.

25,000 THE FESTIVITIES AIMED TO CAPTURE THE SMALL HOME TOWN.

FEEL ON 4TH OF JULY.

A PARADE THROUGH DOWNTOWN WILL KICK OFF THE FESTIVITIES WITH A RARE APPEARANCE BY THE CITY'S FIRST FIRE TRUCK FROM 1926.

HARRY POTTER IS A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER AT THE VENICE MUSEUM.

HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BRIDE ON THAT HISTORIC VEHICLE.

>> BETSY IS OUR ORIGINAL FIRE TRUCK FOR THE CITY OF VENICE.

THAT TURNS 100 THIS YEAR AS PART OF IT, SHE WILL BE LEADING THE PARADE UNTIL I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ON THE BACK OF HER.

SHE'S REACHED AN AGE AND SHE MAY NOT HAVE THAT ANYMORE PARADE, SIR, TO GO.

SO I'M VERY PLEASED.

FEEL PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO RIDE ON THE BACK OF HER FOR THIS PARADE.

>> THE PARADE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A COMMUNITY PICNIC AT THE ARBORETUM.

AND THEN RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO HAND WRITE BIRTHDAY NOTES ACCORDING TO KLINKHAMMER.

>> WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE, TROY MURPHY, COURAGE TO THE CITY AND TO THE COUNTRY, WISHING THEM BEST WISHES FOR THEIR BIRTH.

SO WHEN WE HAVE IS THE CITY'S 2 100TH, WE CAN PULL THEM OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE WERE HOPING FOR BACK.

NONE.

AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE WILL TO SEE IF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE HOPES CAN SURE NOT.

>> THEN THIS IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL THROUGH MAY 2027.

BUT AS POTTER SAYS, THIS YEAR'S 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY WILL SHOWCASE THE CITY'S TIMES.

>> THE OLD FLORIDA FEEL WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH HERE, IT'S A VERY COMFORTABLE RELAXING FEELING AS YOU GO THROUGH THE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK TO FITNESS FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YON JOO PARK.

>> THE 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES WILL BE A FULL DAY EVENT.

THE VENICE MUSEUMS, SPECIAL EXHIBIT VENICE TURNS 100 WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST AS WE PREPARE FOR CELEBRATIONS OF AMERICA'S 200 50TH ANNIVERSARY, PREVIOUS AMERICAN LEADERS HAVE TAKEN LESSONS FROM THE FOUNDING FATHERS 50 YEARS AGO WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL, THEN PRESIDENT GERALD FORD SPOKE ON HOW THE ORIGINAL VALUES OF AMERICA THAT STILL NEED TO BE PRESERVED.

PRESIDENT FORD WOULD PROCLAIM LIBERTY IS FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN.

AS A MATTER OF EQUAL AND AN ALIEN DOUBLE RIGHT ESTABLISHMENT OF JUSTICE AND PEACE ABROAD WILL ENLARGE MEASURE DEPEND UPON THE PEACE AND JUSTICE WE CREATE HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY WHERE WE STILL SHOW THE WAY.

AS WE CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY, A NEW EXHIBIT IN NAPLES IS ON DISPLAY TO HELP ALL OF US UNDERSTAND A POWERFUL TIME IN HISTORY.

THE IMAGES DOCUMENT MOMENTS FROM THE ALLIED D-DAY INVASION THROUGH THE LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY DIVISIONS.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON THE COLLECTION OF PHOTOS ABOUT WORLD WAR TWO'S WESTERN FRONT.

>> AS PART OF FLORIDA CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND COHEN EDUCATION CENTER IS GIVING YOU A VISUAL EXPERIENCE TO SEE THE U.S.

INVOLVEMENT DURING WORLD WAR.

2.

>> IT'S A TREASURE TROVE.

IT'S AN ABSOLUTE TREASURE TROVE.

IT'S SO EXCITING BECAUSE YOU CAN CLEAN SO MUCH FROM THOSE IMAGES.

WHEN KENDRA GILL PRESENTED THE MUSEUM WITH 2 REELS OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> LITTLE WAS KNOWN ABOUT THE IMAGES THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED.

ONE PARTY REBELS SERVED IN THE U.S.

SIGNAL CORPS DURING THE UNITED STATES FIGHT ON THE WESTERN FRONT OF WORLD WAR.

2.

>> THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE PRIMARY LIKE DOCUMENTARIANS OF A VISUAL RECORD FOR THE WAR.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY CHARGED BY THE U.S.

ARMY TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A VISUAL RECORD FIRST AND FOREMOST EFFECTIVELY AS A FORM OF LIKE RECONNAISSANCE AND DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS ACTUALLY GOING SMOOTHLY FOR THE ALLIES.

>> RAQUEL PROVIDED THE MUSEUM WITH 2 REELS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS BLANK.

THE SECOND FILLED WITH OVER 200 IMAGES FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS SCATTERED ACROSS THE FRONT.

THE VISUALIZATIONS HAVE BECOME PART OF A LIMITED EXHIBIT CAUGHT ON FILM.

THE WARTIME PHOTOGRAPHY CAN REGALE IN THE U.S.

ARMY SIGNAL CORPS CAPTURING SCENES FROM THE D-DAY INVASION, THE LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

THE EXHIBIT SHOWCASES THE MEN'S TEAM EFFORT BY AMERICAN TROOP WITH THE WORK OF MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHERS ON DISPLAY.

WE SUSPECT.

>> THAT CAN END UP GETTING THIS COLLECTION.

>> AS PART OF A SORT OF EITHER A SORT OF GOING AWAY COMPILATION OR MAYBE MAKING A DEAL WITH THE FOLKS WHO DID THE PHOTOGRAPHY DEVELOPMENT AND THINGS LIKE IT AT ONE OF THE MANY MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS THAT WERE ACROSS THE FRONT, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE WAS IN FACT, A FILM AND DURING WORLD WAR 2, THE U.S.

SIGNAL CORPS BECAME A VALUED ASSET OF THE U.S.

MILITARY.

>> EXPANDING TO MORE THAN 350,000 PERSONNEL.

>> THE SIGNAL CORPS PIONEERED COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING FM RADIO AND RADAR MANAGE SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE AND PRODUCE TRAINING FILMS.

UNREAL.

THAT WOULD BE SENT HOME TO KEEP AMERICANS ABREAST OF THE WAR TIME EFFORTS.

BUT IT WAS THE EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY THAT PROVIDED A CRITICAL SNAPSHOT ON THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNIQUE MATERIALS THAT.

>> PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN LIKE THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OR PART OF THE SINGLE COURT RECORDS BUT MIGHT NOT REALLY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

SO WE'VE GOT HIGHLIGHTS A PRETTY UNIQUE PIECES TO MAKE SURE WE GOT TO TELL THE STORY FROM THE DAY THROUGH ALL SAW SMALL RAIN CAMPAIGNS TO THE BATTLE OF THE BOLD AND ULTIMATELY TO LIBERATION OF NOT ONLY EUROPE, BUT ALSO LIKE THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND TRYING TO BRING JUSTICE AFTER THE ATROCITIES IN THE WAR HAD CEASED.

FINALLY.

>> SOME OF THE MOST JARRING IMAGES COME FROM THE LIBERATION OF OBERLIN CONCENTRATION CAMP.

AFTER LEARNING OF THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED MEMBERS OF THE 8TH INFANTRY AND 82ND AIRBORNE WOULD GATHERED.

SHERMAN RESIDENTS IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF LEWD FIGURES TO VISIT THE CAMP BURY THE DEAD AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS IN A PROCESSION THAT PASSED HUNDREDS OF GRAVESITES.

IT IS IMAGES SUCH AS THESE THAT ALLOWED THE EMOTIONS AND SCENES FROM THE WAR TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO THIS DAY.

>> VISUAL MEDIUMS HAVE A LOT OF POWER THAT NOT ONLY CAN THEY BE A STATIC LEE PLEASING, BUT THEY ARE A POWERFUL DOCUMENT RESOURCE THAT THEY ALLOW US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PAST AS EFFECTIVELY A SLICE OF THE MOMENT AND THAT ULTIMATELY IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EVENTS SUCH AS WORLD WAR.

2 AND ESPECIALLY THE HOLOCAUST AND THAT WITHOUT FOLKS LIKE KENDRA GAL AND HE'S LIKE HIS TEAMMATES, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS IN THE SIGNAL CORPS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH FOR ROBUST RECORD OF A THE MOST DOCUMENTED GENOCIDE IN HISTORY.

SO I HOPE THEY REALLY TAKE THAT AWAY.

AND THAT THESE VISUAL RECORDS CAN THIS CONTINUE TODAY AND THAT THIS KIND OF INJURIES, VERY POWERFUL, EVEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVENTS OCCURRING TODAY.

>> AS AMERICANS PREPARE TO CELEBRATE THE NATION'S 200 AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND COHEN EDUCATION CENTER HAS BUILT A UNIQUE LOOK INTO ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL CONFLICTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

CAUGHT ON FILM THE WAR TIME PHOTOGRAPHY OF CAN REGALE AND THE U.S.

ARMY SIGNAL CORPS WILL BE ON DISPLAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH.

WGCU NEWS.

I'M TEDDY BURN.

BURN.

>> AMERICA HAS NO SHORTAGE OF HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE A PERMANENT PLACE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

BUT ONE AUTHOR SAYS SOME OF THE MIGHTIEST HEROES APPEAR TO BE DIMINISHED IN THE PAGES OF HISTORY AS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE REPORTS.

A NEW BOOK AIMS TO MAKE SURE THE MAN KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN HERCULES WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED.

>> SO FOR MORE ON OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF FLORIDA TO 50, WE ARE JOINED BY JOHN T PALMER, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ONE MAN ARMY, THE LIFE LEGEND AND BATTLES OF PETER FRANCISCO, MR.

PALMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THIS IS A GUY WHO'S KIND OF BEEN FORGOTTEN IN HISTORY.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON PETER FRANCISCO?

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU I FIRST HEARD OF PETER FRANCISCO, BY LISTENING TO THE HISTORY CHANNEL IN THE BACKGROUND AS I WAS DOING WORK, THE NARRATOR RECOUNTED THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN WHERE THERE WAS A SOLDIER REPUTED TO HAVE SHOULDER AND CARRIED A HALF-TON CANNON FROM THE BATTLEFIELD.

THAT GOT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT IS ROUGHLY THE MODERN WORLD RECORD FOR A BARBELL DEADLIFT.

AND SO THAT'S JUST BRINGING THE WAIT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE GROUND TO YOUR SIZE TO PLAY SUCH A WEIGHT ON ONE SHOULDER WAS NEARLY UNBELIEVABLE.

SO I CONDUCTED SOME PAST RESEARCH ON PETER FRANCISCO AND I SETTLED UP ON HIM LATER IN LIFE WHEN I WAS SEEKING SUBJECTS FOR MY SECOND BOOK IS AN AUTHOR, THE FAMOUS WRITER, DAVID MCCALL.

IT BUYS ASPIRING AUTHORS TO WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT BEFORE.

SO IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND SOME SMALL BIOGRAPHIES, ON THAT TOOK HIS PERSONAL HEROICS AND ALSO EXAMINED IN DETAIL THE WIFE OF AN INDENTURED ORPHAN 18 TH-CENTURY BLACKSMITH.

A COMMON REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER AS WELL AS THE GENERALS IN CHARGE OF THE BATTLES, THE STRATEGIES, THE WINS, THE LOSSES, THE ROADS TO UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS.

AND SO FOR ONE MAN, ARMY IS NOT ONLY A BOOK ABOUT FRANCISCO, BUT ALSO THE BATTLES, THE LEADERS AND IN SOME CASES ENLISTED COMRADES, THE VIRGINIA GIANT IN THE FIELD.

>> BUT NOW HE HAS REALLY THIS FANTASTIC UPBRINGING THE WAY HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES AS A CHILD.

AS YOU MENTIONED, HE WAS PUT INTO INDENTURED SERVITUDE THAT HE JOINS UP WITH THE VIRGINIA MILITIA HAND CARRIES A BROAD MASSIVE ONE.

SO HOW IS THIS FOLK LEGEND FELT AROUND HIS TIME AND HOW DID HE HELP THE MILITARY EFFORTS WHEN YOU HAVE THIS MAN, ONE INDIVIDUAL HAVING THIS INCREDIBLE BACKSTORY, THAT'S ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE A PAUL BUNYAN OR A JOHN HENRY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

>> IT IS AN AMAZING STORY EXCEPT.

PETER FRANCISCO, ISRAEL.

YOU KNOW, HE'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE ONE MAN ARMY AND THE VIRGINIA GIANT.

HE WAS BORN INTO EUROPEAN NOBILITY AND HE WAS ABDUCTED FROM HIS HOME BY MARINERS.

HIS HOME WAS A PORTUGUESE, A SOURCE AT THE AGE OF 4 17.

65.

NOW THEY SAILED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND HE WAS THE POSITIVE UNCEREMONIOUSLY ON THE DOT AND CITY POINT VIRGINIA.

SPEAKING NO ENGLISH.

ALL YOU CAN SAY WITH HIS NAME, PEDRO FRANCISCO.

HE WAS INDENTURE TO PATRICK HENRY UNCLE AS A BLACKSMITH AND THEY CHANGED HIS NAME TO PETER.

THEY GREW A WHOPPING 6 FOOT 6 260 POUNDS BY THE AGE OF 14.

AFTER HEARING FIRSTHAND.

PATRICK HENRY'S GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH SPEECH.

HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO JOIN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY AND DID SO.

AND IT BECAME THE MOST RENOWN ENLISTED SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION IN HIS CAPACITY AS A SOLDIER.

HE PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING WITNESS, THE GREATEST EVENTS AND MET AN ASTOUNDING NUMBER OF LUMINARIES FROM EARLY AMERICA HEADLINED BY GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON.

NATHANIEL GREENE AND THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE WITH WHOM HE FORMED A FIVE-DECADE FRIENDSHIPS ALL TOLD PETER FRANCISCO FOUGHT IN AT LEAST 10 ENGAGEMENT AND RECEIVED 6 GRUESOME WOUNDS AS HE DISPATCHED OVER 20 ENEMY SOLDIERS, MOSTLY BY THE BAND AND A 6 FOOT BROAD SWORD THAT WAS COMMISSION BY HIM OR FOR HIM BY NONE OTHER THAN GENERAL WASHINGTON, HIS FEATS OF COURAGE AND STRENGTH OR LEGEND.

THERE.

NOW AFTER THE WAR, HE BECAME A PLANTER ENGAGED IN SO MEDICATION AND HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ.

THEY MARRIED IN THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY 3 TIMES AND ASSERTING THE SERGEANT AT ARMS FROM THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

READ 31.

BUT THIS IS A COMPELLING ACCOUNT.

ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST AND FINEST HEROES.

>> I MEAN, JUST INCREDIBLE STORY AFTER STORY ABOUT HIM THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL AND YOU LEARN ABOUT THE AMERICAN REAL REVOLUTION, YOU HEAR ABOUT FIGURES LIKE PAUL REVERE'S, MIDNIGHT RUN.

YOU MENTIONED THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE AND HIS INFLUENCE ON FLOOR AND FOREIGN POLITICS.

SO HOW DOES SOMEONE LIKE PETER FRANCISCO JUST FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS WHEN HE LIVED THIS LARGER THAN LIFE LEGEND >> I THINK IN THE END, ALTHOUGH HE WAS BORN INTO NOBILITY.

HE WAS AN ILLITERATE INDENTURED ORPHAN UNTIL HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ AFTER THE WAR.

AND SO MOST OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PETER FRANCISCO WAS WORD OF MOUTH AND THESE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, RELEGATED TO TALL TALES EXCEPT FOR ONE THING.

HE WAS ABLE TO.

ONCE HE LEARNED TO READ AND WRITE, HE APPLIED FOR PENSIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE VIRGINIA STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND IN DOING SO.

HE RECOUNTED HIS BATTLEFIELD EXPLOITS AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE GOT FELLOW SOLDIERS TO SIGN AFFIDAVITS SAYING WHAT THIS MAN IS SAYING IS TRUE AND I WITNESSED IT AND THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WITH FAIR CERTAINTY.

EXACTLY WHAT PETER FRANCISCO DID.

ALL THAT ASIDE.

HE WAS STILL JUST AN ENLISTED SOLDIER.

HE WAS NOT LANDED.

GENTRY.

HE WAS JUST A YOUNG MAN DOING HIS PART.

SOME OF THE FEATS WERE GREAT AND MIGHTY, BUT THEY JUST SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS OF HISTORY.

>> NOW SEVERAL STATES HAVE OFFERED A DAY OF REMEMBERANCE FOR HIM, INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE DONE ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT HE WASN'T A GENERAL OR A HIGH RANKING, BUT REALLY A SOLDIER WHO ENLISTED IN THE ARMY.

DO YOU THINK MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO HONOR HIS LEGACY?

>> WELL, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS GOES BACK TO.

I THINK WHAT MY FATHER SAID IN MY LATE FATHER WAS A FARMER, YOU KNOW, FOR THE EASTERN KENTUCKY HILLS WHOSE WAR 2 PARATROOPER AND EVEN LEGITIMATE TOUGH GUY.

AND HE USED TO BOYS GOT TO HAVE HEROES OTHERWISE.

HOW IS HE TO KNOW HOW TO ACT WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH.

SO AS A RESULT, I WAS RAISED ON STORIES OF GREAT AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY WARRIOR SUCH AS ALVIN YORK AUDIE MURPHY, JOHN PAUL JONES AND GEORGE PATON.

I FOUND IN FRANCISCO A HERO WHO FACED THE STEEPEST ODDS AS A KIDNAP ORPHAN.

HIS WARTIME GREATNESS WAS IN THE MOST DIFFICULT COMBAT SCENARIOS.

TERRIFYING LAUNCHED A VOLLEY OFTEN DEVOLVING INTO HAND TO HAND COMBAT LIFE OR DEATH BY THE BAND.

THAT AND THE SWORD BY ANY MEASURE, FRANCISCO SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AS POSSESSING UNLESS COURAGE AND THE END OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> WELL, THE BOOK IS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ONE MAN ARMY, THE LIFE LEGEND AND BATTLES OF PETER FRANCISCO, AUTHOR JOHN T PALMER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER FACT ABOUT THE AMERICAN HERCULES FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM FOR STATE VIRGINIA, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY OFFICIALLY OBSERVED MARCH 15TH AS PETER FRANCISCO DAY EVERY YEAR, MARYLAND ALSO OBSERVED THE DAY IN 2013.

NOW THAT DAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 17 81 BATTLE OF GUILFORD COURTHOUSE DEPICTING FRANCISCO'S FEAT OF STRENGTH ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

ONE OF THE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS MADE BY PETER FRANCISCO WAS WITH THE FRENCH MILITARY OFFICER, A POLITICIAN MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.

YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR DE LAFAYETTE SPOKE ON HOW HE WISHES FOR AMERICA TO BE REMEMBERED, SAYING MADE THESE HAPPY UNITED STATES, A TEAM THAT COMPLETE SPLENDOR AND PROSPERITY, WHICH WILL ILLUSTRATE THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND FOR A JUST A COMFORT.

JOYCE, THE DEPARTED SOULS OF THEIR FOUNDERS.

WHEN THE FIRST SHOTS WERE FIRED IN THE BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, THEY IGNITED A POWDER KEG THAT WOULD LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE OVER THE COURSE OF 6 EPISODES.

ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER KEN BURNS AND HIS TEAM TOOK AN EXPANSIVE LOOK AT THE VIRTUES AND CONTRADICTIONS OF THE WAR AND THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> TO BELIEVE IN AMERICA IS TO BELIEVE IN POSSIBILITY.

POSSIBILITY WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

A POSSIBILITY.

>> A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORLD.

>> AMERICA IS PREDICATED ON AN IDEA.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WE BELIEVE IN COMES OUT OF THE REVOLUTION.

>> IDEAS OF LIBERTY EQUALITY.

>> IT'S THE DEFINING EVENT OF OUR HISTORY.

>> IN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT TO SERVE AS A MODEL AROUND THE WORLD.

>> IT OR NOT, HE WAS LIBERTIES.

THESE ARE TRANSCENDENT LIBERTIES.

THESE ARE LIBERTIES THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE BY THE NATURE OF BEING HUMAN.

>> AMERICAN REVOLUTION CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION, WE'RE JOINED BY THE FILM'S CO-DIRECTOR, DAVID SCHMIDT.

DAVID, WELCOME.

>> HIGHS AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU SO.

>> MOST OF US THINK THAT WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT IT IN SCHOOL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS FILM WILL TEACH US THAT WE WOULDN'T FIND IN A HISTORY BOOK >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK.

>> I GREW UP IN COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA.

SO I THOUGHT I KNEW A THING OR 2 ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

AND REALLY, THAT'S THAT'S ALL I WAS.

I KNEW A THING OR 2 YOU KNOW, WE KNOW ALL AMERICANS KNOW A JULY 4TH, 17.

76, A LOT OF US KNOW THAT THE WAR STARTED IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THERE'S LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, BUNKER HILL.

WE MIGHT KNOW THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON HAS SURPRISE VICTORY AT TRENTON ON CHRISTMAS DAY 17.

76 WE MIGHT KNOW THAT ENDED AT YORK TOWN, BUT THERE'S 8 YEARS OF A WAR.

THERE'S.

10 YEARS OR MORE A LEADING INTO THAT WAR OF POLITICAL STRIFE THAT LED TO IT.

AND THERE'S A LOT THAT CAME OUT OF THAT OR THAT I THINK WE JUST AREN'T REALLY FAMILIAR WITH.

WE AREN'T REALLY FAMILIAR WITH WHY THE ARMY'S WERE WHERE THEY WERE, WHAT THE ISSUES REALLY WERE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE UNITED STATES CAME OUT OF THIS WAR, THAT IT WASN'T A WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE, BUT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT DIDN'T START THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S RIGHT NOW IS THE 200 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE WAR.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE JULY 4TH 17, 76 IS THE DECLARATION.

INDEPENDENTS THERE'S A YEAR.

PLUS OF WAR BEFORE THERE EVEN IS THAT WAR AIM OF WINNING INDEPENDENCE.

IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE TO START AND IT JUST BECAME WHAT IT BECAME AND BECAME THE CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE COURSE OF WHAT IT TOOK TO WIN THAT WAR.

AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY COMPELLING STORY THAT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT ABOUT.

>> SO READING SOME OF THE PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION FROM PBS SEEING THAT THIS RED REVOLUTION WASN'T YOU KNOW, JUST A FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.

IT WAS A CIVIL WAR AND AWARD WAR AND MILLIONS WERE IMPACTED BEYOND FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE COLONIES.

EXPLAIN.

>> THE WEEKEND LIKES TO TALK ABOUT IT AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IS THAT OUR AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE ONE OF THE 18 60'S WAS A MORE OF A SECTIONAL WAR.

IT WAS STATES AGAINST STATES MORE THAN IT WAS BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER.

THERE WERE INSTANCES OF THAT.

BUT IT WAS REALLY THE CASE AND ALMOST EVERY FAMILY, CERTAINLY EVERY COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT CHURCHES, THE CONGREGATION OF THE CONGREGATIONS WERE SPLIT IN THE CASE OF, FOR INSTANCE, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S FAMILY.

HE COMPLETELY DISOWNED HIS SON WHO WAS AN ARCH LOYALIST AND WAS THE ROYAL GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY AND CITED WITH THE KING AS A RESULT.

BEN FRANKLIN, OF COURSE, SIGNED A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WAS ONE OF THE KEY FOUNDING FATHERS WINNING AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

IT BECAME A WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.

AS I MENTIONED THROUGH THROUGH THE DECORATION AND AND, YOU KNOW, TURNS OUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE ANYMORE.

BUT IN ORDER TO WIN THAT WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE, THE AMERICANS HAD TO THROUGH BEN FRANKLIN'S WORK, GET THE FRENCH IN ON THEIR SIDE AND THE FRENCH BROUGHT THE SPANISH AS WELL.

SO FLORIDA'S ACTUALLY REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF BOTH THE CIVIL WAR AND THAT GLOBAL WAR ASPECT.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE UP THROUGH CANADA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

THE THE AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

>> YEAH.

SO THE AMERICANS INVADED CANADA AND 17 75 IN THE LAST DAY OF 17.

75?

THEY LOST THE BATTLE FOR QUEBEC CITY.

BUT I STAYED IN CANADA AND TRIED TO TAKE HER BACK FOR ANOTHER FEW MONTHS UNTIL THEIR TASTE OUT.

THEN AFTER THE FRENCH ENTERED THE WAR, THERE ARE BATTLES ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN.

AS I MENTIONED, THE GULF COAST, THERE ARE BATTLES THAT ARE BROUGHT ARE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN EVEN EXTENDED AS FAR AS INDIA WHEN THE FRENCH AN AND AND BRITISH WERE VYING FOR COLONIAL CONTROL OVER SO CONTINENT.

THERE.

SO IT REALLY WAS IN ITSELF A WORLD WAR.

BUT THAT, OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL BECAME A RALLYING CRY FOR COLONIAL AN ANTI-COLONIAL MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD FOR FOR CENTURIES.

REALLY, THESE THOUGHTS ARE WORLD SPANNING.

AND HAVE THE IMPACT.

THIS IS A MOMENT THAT IS.

A MOMENT THAT REALLY CHANGES THE WORLD AND IT DOES TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

IT'S NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES IS FUTURE.

IT'S NOT JUST NORTH AMERICA.

IT'S TREMENDOUSLY FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH AMERICA.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM DURING THIS WAR?

AND AS A RESULT OF THIS WAR BUT IT'S ALSO A MOMENT OF TREMENDOUS CHANGE.

THE WORLD OVER.

>> DAVID SMITH, WE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SENATOR.

>> YOU CAN FIND ALL 6 EPISODES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

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