On a day like today, 165 years ago, something special happened. A group of people put their lives on the line to fight for something they believed in. They were few, they had been betrayed before and their leader wasn't even amongst them; But with courage and maybe with some luck too they began an adventure that still to this day is being undertaken. A journey called the Dominican Republic. These men were the founding fathers of our country, who with a shot fired from Mella's muzzle announced that we were here. This small nation which has been re-invaded, almost sold, occupied, exploited etc... but still we endure, and we are proud. We are not strong, we are not rich...but our land is our land; The only place on earth we can call home. Today remember those men, and remember that one man, Juan Pablo Duarte, whose dream we should strive to fulfill every day. Not just for us, but for the ones who came before and those who will come after. On this day take your Dominican flag, and don't just wave it, look at it. Think about what it means, what it represents, look at how beautiful it is. Remember how beautiful the land it represents is. It doesn't matter if your half a world away, remember wherever we are, the Dominican Republic is. because we carry it in our hearts. So, let us show the world how beautiful our land really is. Feliz Dia de la Independencia!

Danny VC:

Yes, these were men of courage who refused to fight instead of running. Men of deep convictions who resisted the invasion of their homeland until their last breath, and provided us the free country that we now know. Thank God for those men and women of Los Trinitarios and Sociedad Filantrópica.

Here's the secret oath the took as they fought for indepedence:

Juramento de los Trinitarios

En el nombre de la santísima, augustísima e indivisible Trinidad de Dios Omnipotente, en manos de nuestro presidente Juan Pablo Duarte, cooperar con mi persona, vida y bienes a la Separación definitiva del gobierno haitiano, y a implantar una República libre, soberana e independiente de toda dominación extranjera, que se denominará República Dominicana, la cual tendrá su pabellón tricolor, en cuartos encarnados y azules, atravesados con una cruz blanca. Mientras tanto, seremos reconocidos los Trinitarios con las palabras sacramentales: "Dios", "Patria" y "Libertad". Así lo prometo ante Dios y el mundo: si lo hago, Dios me proteja, y de no, me lo tome en cuenta, y mis consocios me castiguen el perjurio y la traición, si los vendo.

Quisqueya La bella!!!