Revolution was greatest event in American history

By Chris Sweigart

Today begins the first in a series of Top 5s. I’ll offer a number of lists ranging anywhere from our great nation to food to sports, etc.
My first installment is the five greatest events in American history.
1. Revolution: Can any single event in our nation be greater than this? Our separation from Great Britain included the Declaration of Independence, which in itself expressed the attitude of our nation. If the American Revolution had never taken place, we wouldn’t be talking about great events in American history in the first place.
2. The end of World War II: I wasn’t around back then, but what a great relief it had to have been for the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands and wives to see their men and women return from such an epic war that played out to our east and west. The end of the war began with events such as our troops storming the beaches at Normandy, soldiers twice raising the flag at Iwo Jima (once for a pretty picture) and ultimate surrender by our enemies. The war was over and an era of American prosperity and happiness was at our doorstep.
3. One giant leap: The fact that America was the first nation to safely land men on the moon is arguably the greatest feat of mankind, period.
4. First flight: Orville and Wilbur Wright’s short, but successful flight on the North Carolina beaches instituted the great age of avionics and transcended the means by which people would later travel. If these dudes hadn’t flown over a few sand dunes, we may never have made it to the moon.
5. Industrial Revolution: Though the industrial revolution actually began in Europe, the spread of manufacturing plants and steam-powered engines on our soil changed the American workforce forever.

Next week: America’s top five discoveries.