Author: Colleen Bellezza

10 January is 250 years since the publication of the most important document during the Revolution short of the Declaration of Independence: Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. It is a 47-page pamphlet using moral and political arguments to advocate for the revolution and the creation of a government meant to be for the people and by the people. It was wildly successful from the get-go, selling as many as 120,000 copies in the first three months and as many as 500,000 in the first year between America, England and France (although in France the critique against a monarchy was removed). Whatever the number was in the colonies, the proportion of sales to population (a little over two million), led it to be the most successful publication in American history. Unfortunately for Paine, he did not reap any profits, a fact he learned when he wanted to use the profits to buy mittens for General Montgomery’s troops who were encamped in ice cold Quebec.
At the time Common Sense was published, independence for the colonies was not something on the forefront of people’s minds, although hostilities already broke out at Lexington and Concord among
other skirmishes and battles by then. Rather, the prevailing belief was that the fighting was the way to ‘air our grievances’ over taxation without representation and other British laws we felt were unjust. Common Sense changed that. Ordinary colonists wrote many letters to newspapers touting the rational and clear case for independence in plain, simple prose using facts and reasoning after reading Common Sense. Some notable people, such as future President John Adams did not like Common Sense, seeing it as pursuing too strong of a democracy with too much liberty, which makes sense as he preferred a republic that offered checks and balances. Loyalists of course decried it, stating things such as, “I find no common sense” or “Limited monarchy is the form of government which is most favorable to liberty” among other attacks on the pamphlet.
Paine and his publishing partner, Robert Bell, had a brilliant marketing idea when it was first published. They knew that British King George III was getting ready to issue a proclamation on the colonies and hoping to contrast his strong, monarchial message, desired to advertise Common Sense around the same time. As luck would have it, the advertisement and the proclamation ran on the same day in The Pennsylvania Evening Post within pages of each other. They were off and running from there.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was decisive in swaying public opinion among the colonists from reconciliation to rebellion. Although when he died, only six people attended his funeral due to the fact that his words and writings later in life alienated his friends and former allies. He can be remembered today as a man hugely influential in our fledging independence movement who more than any other, was able to put into words why we must become a country. A country that has grown into the greatest in the history of the world.

Upcoming Events

D&D Friday Game Nights
6PM
36 Center St—Basement
January 2
January 16
January 30
Please Bring A Dish to Share

Free Veteran and
Family Haircuts
January 7th 10-11AM
36 Center St Basement

RSVP by calling 786-8860
Check us out ONLINE at : https://wycojvc.wixsite.com/wycovets

Join us for our Coffee Hours
Jan 5 10 AM January 13
The Prospector in Attica Wyoming Hook and Ladder
January 16 - 8AM Jan 20 Heavy Eavys– in Castile Perry VFW
January 26
Wyoming County Vet’s Club

Come and join us for BINGO
January 29th 11:00am 36 Center St. Warsaw
Downstairs Room LC1
Snacks, Prizes, Coupons for meals at Perry and
Castile Restaurants
Please bring a prize for the winners
table if you are able
RSVP by Friday 1/23

Low Vision Support Group
January 9th 11AM—12:30
36 Center St LC5 Downstairs
You do not need a VA rating to join our group

Operation Wellness will be cancelled for the Month of
January due to a lack of State Funding.
We will have more updates on this
program next Month

The Office will be closed on
January 1st
Happy New Year 2026!
Also Closed on January 16 as we will be at the American Legion Mid-Winter conference

Veteran’s Community Bulletin Board

January 3rd—Veteran Dinner -Moose Club in Warsaw
Doors open at Noon, Lunch served at 1PM
RSVP by December 26th to Dave at 314-0969
January 4th 8AM Breakfast at Perry VFW—Full Breakfast
options—eggs, Meat, omelets, Sausage Gravy, Etc.… Donations
January 17th -Venison Dinner at Legion in Castile
$20.00 tickets -Door Prizes, Raffle and dinner.
See any member for tickets
If you would like to include your organizations function please call the
office at 786-8860

Are you Looking for a way to help other
Veterans?
We are looking for Drivers willing to take Veteran’s to appointments.
If you are willing to be put on our drivers list please call and let us know.
786-8860