(Daily Signal)—Travis Bowman is a seventh-generation descendant of one of America’s most remarkable yet overlooked Revolutionary War heroes: Peter Francisco, known as “The Virginia Giant.”
During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., Bowman visited The Daily Signal to share the incredible tale of Francisco’s life: from his mysterious beginnings in the Azores, to his kidnapping by pirates and arrival on Virginia’s shores, to becoming a 6’6″ towering figure in America’s fight for independence.
Upon arriving in Virginia, Francisco was taken in by Patrick Henry’s uncle, Judge Anthony Winston in Buckingham County, working as an indentured servant. He would later grow to become such a formidable warrior that Gen. George Washington had a special 6-foot broadsword forged for him.
Recalling stories of his famous ancestor, Bowman discusses Francisco’s legendary feats, including the famous Battle of Guilford Courthouse, where his prowess in combat is commemorated by a monument to this day.
Today, Francisco’s legacy lives on through seven monuments, state holidays, and even a 1976 bicentennial stamp. He’s also the main character of historical novel “Luso: For Love, Liberty and Legacy.”
With America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon in 2026, Bowman shares plans for a nine-episode miniseries based on his novel that aims to bring this Revolutionary War story to the screen.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
