Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Did You Know..... Happy 4th of July America


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.

Remember:
Freedom is never free!


It's time we understand that patriotism
is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games.


Happy Independence Day America, and may we as a nation turn BACK to God and be the Christian Nation as like we began.

15 comments:

  1. Thank you! I often think about how the revolutionists would have been regarded today. We revere them because they were the ones who instigated our nation's freedom, however, they were considered traitors, terrorists, rebels, mercenaries, and instigators.
    To us they are heroes but if a group did the same thing today in protest of the government, they would be hated.
    They say hindsight is 20/20. They didn't have that liberty.
    All we have to do, to realize the cost of liberty is look at the other countries who are ruled by dictators or look at the price we are still paying.
    Remember, folks, what Independence Day means.
    Mama Bear

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you!

    "Freedom is never free" touches my heart. My son is a marine and will be leaving in Jan. for aphganstan. Often, we do not think about the sacrifices until they impact us personally.

    Blesssings and prayers, andrea

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Wow I love this!
    May I have your permission to post it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a great lesson and something everyone should ponder and reflect on during this independence week...I am ashamed to say I haven't really thought about all these men and their sacrifices in many years...thanks for reminding me....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, Denise, I did not know any of that. How interesting. Everyone should know about those men. I am ashamed to say that History was my worst subject in school...maybe that explains why I did not know those interesting facts. Thank you for sharing that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So well said. This was a moving post. Happy 4th of July to you my friend...hugs...m..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Denise,

    A very informative post about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence...no, freedom is NEVER free.

    Our nation's birthdays are just three days apart. Canada Day was a wet one this year. I hope you have a great 4th of July.

    I just caught up on your posts. I'm so glad that your Mom & Dad are both at home and that your Dad doesn't have any broken bones.

    Blessings,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  8. Denise,
    this was a very very great post...thank you so much for posting and reminding us of the great sacrifices that were made in order for us to experience the freedom we have...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for this "lesson". I did not know this and guaranteed I'll be showing this to my dd. I stayed at Middleton Place in SC. It was awesome. Have you ever been?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful post Denise. Thank you for sharing....I never knew the history of the signers of the Declaration of Independence...freedom comes with a high price, we should never take our liberties for granted...hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  11. These men are easily comparable to those new testament believers. They were are willing to stand for something that we take for granted.
    Thank you for posting this...it is important that we never forget.
    And I guess it would be easily said that we already have as a nation.
    As the body of Christ....may we remember what our freedom cost.
    Thanks for posting this!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you, Denise!!! Didn't know about the signers!! You're so right...freedom is not free, it comes with a price...and many have given of their time and lives for us to live in freedom.

    How blessed we are!!

    ~Beth

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have read something like this before but it is always a great reminder!!!!!Thanks so much for sharing this today!!!Blessings~Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  14. That was so good! Our freedom is precious! Thanks for sharing. Hugs Grams

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just as our Freedom in America isn't free. Our Freedom in Christ isn't free either. Just as these men paid it all for forming a new country. Christ paid it all so we can life but to walk in true Freedom we must die to ourselves. Can you tell I watch the Anguish video first.

    ReplyDelete

 
!-- gt;