The motto "Live Free or Die" was part of a volunteer toast which General John Stark, the state's most distinguished hero of the Revolutionary War, sent to his wartime comrades. He had declined an invitation to head up a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont, because of poor health. The toast said in full: "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils."





State Tree, Whitebirch





State Wild Flower, Pink Lady Slipper





State Flower, Lilac





State Bird, Purple Finch





State Wild Animal, White Tail Deer



Now that the preliminaries are behind us, Joe and I will jump in the Chevy and head over to USA Drifters University and check in with the history department.