4TH OF JULY TRIVIA

[Cass17]

I just got this e-mailed and thought I'd pass it on. Something to think about...

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. A few weeks later he died
from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and
sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed,
rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.
They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight,
and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with
firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually
pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our scared honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America . The history books
never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary W ar. We
didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we
fought our own government!!!

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 considering the price they
paid. Remember: freedom is never free!

Also remember our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brother and
sisters, and all the rest who are still putting themselves in harm's way
for the sake of freedom - Iraq , Afghanistan , and all the other areas of
conflict. The Fourth of July does have more to it than beer, picnics, and
baseball games.

[mommaidwf]

Wow. I did not know any of that. That is definitely food for thought. I do however try to make sure that my kids know a simple meaning of what the holiday's are for so they don't think it's just about having a pool party and a bbq.

[javamom]

Cass that was really interesting and inspiring. We really do need to pause & remember what the citizens of that time went through to secure the freedoms we enjoy.

I'm thankful to have been born here in this country.I'm proud to be an American.

With all of it's faults America is still the best country on the planet, No it's not perfect,but when I don't like something about it-I thank God for the freedom to say so!

[Cass17]

That's the same thing I thought when I read it. I think we all automatically think Barbeque and forget why we really have this national holiday.

[jujuann]

I look forward to the fourth from our capitol. It has never been much about BBQ and beer for us. As a career military family we have been made aware of the real reason often. I also thank God for the lives of the men and women who secured our freedoms and all those who have and are keeping them for us.

Have a happy 4th!

[AVONCHICK]

Great bit of history thanx Cass.

[crafty grandmommie]

Don't really think any of us appreciate what we have enough. Things like this helps us think about what was sacrificed for us to have what we have today.

I was born in Gwinnett County, GA which was named for Button Gwinnett who signed the Declaration.

[ziggyeor]

one of the judges was mentioned in Sunday's paper. A local man is decended from him and a few other of the signers are related. I think he went to Washington for a special thing they have for family of the decendants of signers.

Ziggy