4th of July

[will8989]

I never, ever forward or copy emails in here but I thought this was appropriate since we have that wonderful scrollsawing of the Declaration of Independence. So please read, don't get irritated at me for posting this, and everyone have a very happy and safe 4th!! And for those currently serving or have served in the military, I thank you. I have relatives, includng my husband, who served during Vietman so I do know what it is all about and the sacrifices we all must make and how unappreciated it is until Freedom is taken away. So please don't let that happen!!


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, Ruttledg e, 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!

I hope you will show your support by sharing this with
your family & friends.
It's time we get the word
Out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it
Than beer, picnics, and baseball games

[wwalker47]

Here, here! You can say that again.

-Bill

[thecopperfish]

Thanks for posting. I always want to remember the sacrifices that purchased our freedom.
Chris

[CanadianScroller]

I honestly think there is no country as patriotic as the United States.
The 4th is the ultimate celebration of that patriotism.

Thanks for posting the information.
You are right in saying all freedoms come at a price.
Enjoy your holiday

[Steviegwood]

Hi Betty, I would like to thank you for posting that passage. It is extremely appropriate for this holiday. I would also like to thank your husband for his service to our country. We had some training films in basic from the Vietnam War. The pure hell that some of those men went through was to much of a price for any of of us to ask them to pay. I would like to thank all of our military personel past and present for their service and their families for standing by them. A Heart Felt Thanks To All!!! Steve HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

[L&P]

That was awesome. Thanks for sharing. My friend just got back from Afganistan. I'm grateful to him and all the soldiers for all they're doing. I wish everyone a safe and happy 4th.

[Woodbutcher68]

Just found this interesting, related AP story:

TRENTON, N.J. - When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to honor the grave sites of Declaration of Independence signers, don't count New Jersey in. It says it can't afford it.

Five Declaration signers are buried in the Garden State: four New Jerseyans and a Pennsylvanian. An effort to preserve their graves, promote their lives and honor them with graveside plaques has stalled in a state that was home to several key Revolutionary War battles and dubs itself the "Crossroads of the American Revolution."

A plan to spend $200,000 to spruce up grave sites and mark their locations with new plaques has bounced around the Legislature for more than three years without becoming law, a victim of chronic state budget woes.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a bill sponsor, said he continues to lobby for the proposal, but noted that the latest state budget sliced funding for charities that help homeless people and inner-city poor, among others.

"It's hard to justify spending money on historic grave sites when there's a real human need out there," said Gusciora, a Democrat.

The proposal would establish a state program to preserve the graves and promote Abraham Clark, John Hart, Richard Stockton and John Witherspoon, who signed for New Jersey, and George Clymer, who signed for Pennsylvania but is buried in Trenton.

Stockton and Witherspoon are buried in Princeton, while Hart is in Hopewell Borough and Clark in Rahway.

"These five men literally pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor for the independence of this country," said Republican Assemblyman Bill Baroni, paraphrasing the Declaration's famous final line.

"We should be honoring these five men," said Baroni, another bill sponsor. "Keeping their graves marked and restored is the least we can do."

The bill was approved by the Assembly in January 2006, but hasn't received further consideration since.

Baroni and Gusciora say the grave sites could promote tourism and historical education.

"I think these markers should serve not only to honor the persons who took part in the founding of our country, but serve as an educational tool and create an infusion not only of historic interest, but also tourist dollars," Gusciora said.

State financial problems aside, it's possible some of the signers wouldn't approve of fancy grave sites.

Clymer and Stockton were Quakers buried in the religion's humble tradition. Clymer has a small headstone, while Stockton doesn't even have one. A sign along a wall at the Stoney Brook Quaker Meeting House near downtown Princeton simply notes he's buried there.

"Tradition is very subdued grave sites, very small grave stones," said Fred Millner of the Trenton Friends Meeting House, where Clymer is buried.

This how we honor the original engineers of our country.
Personally, I think it's pretty sad and I'll leave it at that.
Form your own opinions, take a little time to reflect on what Independence Day is REALLY about and have a good holiday.

My thanks go out to all who now serve and have served to make and keep this country free.

[miamw]

Isn't Veteran's Day the day to honor those who have served? It's funny how this holiday is so mixed up with Veteran's Day and Memorial Day.

Let's think about our freedom: At the federal level, we have taxes and the Constitution; at the State level, we have more taxes and another Constitution; at the County level, we have even more taxes and County Seats to uphold the municipal law which also imposes more taxes. We can't drive free, nor own a dog free, nor drink water for free, nor take a s*** free. All those taxes and people are dying from hunger and disease in this great country.

Are we free? I don't think so.

[guitarman]

Betty, as a Vietnam veteran I thank you for your posting. I know how it is to have people spit at you and give you the finger for having anything to do with Vietnam. It made me so sad to see some of the free people doing this kind of thing and not thinking that some of what I did was to give them the freedom to do such things. God bless you and God bless your husband. I hope he never encountered anything like what I did at airports when I was coming home. A lot of us did and a lot of us didn't. Have a great 4th. David

[knothead]

Mia,
Wow - I am not sure how to respond but I feel a response is necessary.
We ARE FREE because of the sacrifices of others. To say that people are dying from hunger and disease because we pay to much in taxes is insane.
Might I suggest you leave New Jersey and go to a third world country where people don't pay taxes and see how many are dying needlessly. I have seen it for myself and it is enough to make you cry.
I''ll quit now and just hope that you can have a happy INDEPENDENCE DAY and think about what INDEPENDENCE has done for you.
Tom