Liberty or Death

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry addressed his fellow delegates at the Second Virginia Convention. History remembers the moment as the "liberty or death" speech whose philosophical sentiments and rhetorical excellence inspired the Revolution. The message echoes even now.

During a Monday NPR broadcast, Garrison Keillor commemorated the event. He vividly described the scene as Henry spoke with his fellow members of the House of Burgesses. Many listeners likely inferred the speech occurred in Williamsburg. Virginia's political leaders, however, had left the Colonial Capitol and had convened in Richmond instead.

Henry made his mark in St. John's Church, which remains an active congregation. And the church's re-enactment of the Henry drama rates among the region's historical highlights. The re-enactments are open to the public, are free, and run from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day. They are not just for tourists, either.