Happy Independence Day!!!

[Lesracing]

Wishing everyone a Safe & Happy Independence Day!!!

Below is a little bit of info about our original signers to the Declaration of Independence. Take a moment and reflect on what they suffered for us to have our freedom.


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. His 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!

Have a GR8 holiday!!!

[Bondsaway]

Excellent post Les.

Happy 4th of July everyone. Please stay safe and remember not to let your kids play with fireworks! Hope to see you all back on here!

George

[ashley832]

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Hope you all have a great day and see pretty fireworks!!

Ashley=)

[golfermatt91]

Happy 4th of July

did anyone see Live free Die hard that movie was preatty sweet....

[chljoe]

I recommend reading 1776 by Thomas McCullough. Absolutely fascinating and shows the true test of will and determination of some of the individuals that were involved.

[gerald hewitt]

Happy fourth!:usa2:
ALL YOU TERRIFFIC STC MEMBERS!!
Gerald

[Shayne1911]

Happy 4th of July!!!!

:)
Shayne

[Lord Vader]

Everyone have a great day!!!!!

[doniceage]

Les,
Good post as I think a lot of us have lost site of how the 4th came about. THUMBS UP

[etmill01]

Les, great post, lots of interesting information I never knew about..I hope everyone has a great holiday and now it is time to take the kids to the park for the day..Thanks Ed