Fourth of July

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Fourth of July

Postby Lonesomedave » Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:37 pm

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As you enjoy your BBQ and beer this week end please read below remember





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.

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.

As true citizens, remember our Soldiers and Marines, and remember :

Freedom is never free!

I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many

people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that 'In God We Trust' is still our National Motto, patriotism

is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July means more than beer,

picnics, and baseball games.
"Half a loaf is better than a kick in the head. You tell me what you mean and I'll tell you what said.
I sent you for jelly, you come back with jam. Who exactly do you think I am?"
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby TonySTL » Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:19 pm

Thanks Dave. I wonder how many of our schools actually teach these things in American History. Just this week, I took my three daughters (16, 12 and 7) to a museum that included replicas of and information regarding our three branches of government. At one station, it offered you the opportunity to put your signature on the Declaration of Independence. I was preparing to mention to my daughter that this was a very brave thing to do when she read to me the message on the screen. "Are you sure you want to sign this document?" Then it went on to state many of the facts stated above and the price that our Founding Fathers were willing to pay for this declaration. I fully assumed that my 16 year old daughter was taught this in school as I was explainingg this to my 12 year old. The older daughter told me, they never taught that in school, I heard it from you. Although it was nice to know that they listen, I wonder about those who are taught a revisionist history and about how terrible our countries founders were. I am also discouraged when I see them portrayed as anything more than men who could see that freedom was going to cost, yet were willing to pursue it. I don't like to see the Faith of many of these men magnified beyond what we know or dismissed by outright lies.

I will remember as the flag is raised and lowered this weekend.
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby Lonesomedave » Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:26 pm

Nice post, Tony. Our freedom came at great sacrifice then and we stay free by the same courage.

I put this out on the site a long time ago (I think?) but in 1987 we went to Panama to work on a road project for the Army. Now this was when Noriega was still in power and his police declared open season on Americans. My crew had to work in the middle of Panama City at night, transporting equipment to the docks for shipment to the US. It was scary. Real scary. A Navy officer had his wife raped and beaten by the police around the same time. A lot of our guys were relieved of their watches and wallets as, "fines" for who knows what? We were then confined to Howard Air Force Base but it was creepy to see the Panamanian flag flying knowing the freedom it did not represent. The five of us who flew back to Pope Air Force Base kissed the ground when we got off the plane.
Freedom.
"Half a loaf is better than a kick in the head. You tell me what you mean and I'll tell you what said.
I sent you for jelly, you come back with jam. Who exactly do you think I am?"
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby sunsetkidd » Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:40 pm

Thanks for the great posts Dave. The Declaration of Independence was such a monumental event; the great foundation, and a work of courage.
Yes, we do take too much for granted, and should ALWAYS be mindful what sacrifices were made for us.
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."
- Bogart
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby Dar » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:11 pm

nice post
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby MsUp » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:58 pm

Thanks, Dave. I knew a bit of this, as I have a friend, in CT who lives in a house built before the Revolutionary War, and I'm a history buff, as well. Fouth of July is not just another holiday, it's very special.
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby kroney » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:59 pm

Thanks to both Dave and Tony for your words and thoughts......We all need to be reminded from time to time.....
With courage, strength, faith and hope we will face one day at a time.
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby Cardinals » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:11 am

Nice posts Dave and Tony !
Freedom isn't Free !

God Bless America
“I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Ronald Reagan called those “the nine most terrifying words in the English language” -- and with good reason.
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby CurlyQfromLI » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:06 am

What a wonderful post...I didn't know half of what was written. Shows that you are never too old to learn something new. Thanks again.
Annie

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Give it your best, and remember that life is what you choose
Follow your dreams, and do what you love to do
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Re: Fourth of July

Postby Lonesomedave » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:29 pm

underground wrote:That essay is inspirational and motivational, and some of it is true, even if exxagerated, according to snopes.


http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp


As a rule I check such things out on snopes before I post but it was a forward from a friend (Also from Portland) and there was an intro saying it had been verified on snopes.
I should have checked it myself. Throwing things out on the site with out verification undermines the credibility of one's posts.
Thanks for doing my homework. I hesitate to post such things and that's a good reason why I don't.
Post what you know. Ask about what you don't.
"Half a loaf is better than a kick in the head. You tell me what you mean and I'll tell you what said.
I sent you for jelly, you come back with jam. Who exactly do you think I am?"
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