July 9, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Discover how the ideals of 1776 echoed across the battlefields of the 1860s in “Legacies of Liberty: the Founding Fathers’ Influence on the Civil War Generation.” This relevant presentation in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, explores how figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Madison shaped the thinking of leaders and soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Through historical analysis and vivid storytelling, the program reveals how the Founders’ words were invoked to justify union, secession, and the meaning of freedom itself. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how Revolutionary principles were interpreted, challenged, and transformed during America’s greatest internal struggle. Examining the enduring power of the nation’s founding ideas, this talk connects two defining eras in a fresh and engaging way. Join us for an illuminating journey into the intellectual and moral legacy that linked the Founding Fathers to the Civil War generation.
Jason Bruening serves as the Technology Officer for the TVCWRT managing our website, social media pages, YouTube channel, and all things tech. Jason grew up in Springfield, MO, just a few miles from Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. As a teenager, his family moved to Galesburg, IL, site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858. He moved to Huntsville in 2001 when he married his wonderful wife, Nicole. They have two daughters whom Jason has “dragged along” to multiple battlefields during their childhood. His daughters have earned more NPS Junior Ranger Badges on those tours than they care to count. Jason worked in radio and television for almost 30 years and is currently employed by the business office of Huntsville Hospital. He has been a member of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table since 2023. You can see Jason each year as he participates in the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll where he portrays Thomas Bibb, the second governor of Alabama. Jason’s younger brother, Jared, is a history teacher and the host of the popular YouTube channel, The Daily Bellringer, which creates short history videos designed to be used in the class room.
