newlook 265 Report post Posted July 4, 2008 THE 4TH OF JULY Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted July 5, 2008 History should teach lessons. An excerpt from David McCullough's blog, the author of "John Adams". This is a very readable book and the basis of a recent HBO miniseries. I strongly believe all of us should know and remember how great were the hardships endured by the very real-life men and women of America's founding time and how much of our way of life and our freedoms we owe to their sacrifices and steadfastness. David McCullough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 newlook 265 Report post Posted July 5, 2008 Good one Rick....Hope all is well back east and Happy 4th to you man! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Beth n Rod 1,279 Report post Posted July 5, 2008 To me, the 4th of July is a day to celebrate the Spirit of our country, its beginning, and its today. I am proud to be an American. I love our country. We are fortunate to have the freedoms we do, and we should be thankful for many have paid a price for us to have them. I celebrate our soil, our people, our dreams. Beth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 MMI Enterprises 289 Report post Posted July 5, 2008 Is many things but yesterday it was good times with family.... bbq franks, hillshires, burgers, tri tip, corn on cob, pepsi, bartles and james, mudslides, water balloon fights, watchin the teens frenchin in a cool spa and but then doin it up right with the o'le lady by sneaking away from the parte', ...2 liter water bottle rockets, insane amounts of firworks wired together for grandfinale (left bonfire burnin in the roadway).... yea baby!, and homemade ice cream worked too .. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Rick2 42 Report post Posted July 5, 2008 My wife is from a former communist country (Bulgaria) and once in a while has to remind me how well we have it here. No lines for food, buying any type of shoes you want, the ability to leave and enter the country at will, etc. Things we take for granted here are not the same in other places. I remember some years back I was watching the movie Moscow on the Hudson when she came in from shopping. She watched it for a few minutes then shut off the TV asking me never to watch that again. Too many bad memories I guess. I have lived in Asia for years and traveled to many other countries. While we have our share of problems here I feel it's one of the best places to live. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THE 4TH OF JULY
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men
who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for
granted, but we shouldn't.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free!
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