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.
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.
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!
It really made me think about what those men sacrificed for their ideal of freedom. How many people today would make that same sacrifice? Our men and women in the military would and many sacrifice everything. The question I still ask, though, is why is it necessary for them to do so? It's hard to see families torn apart for a war that I can't get behind. I honor those who are over there, but are we honoring them by sending them?
On another point, last year I tried to be more positive and made a list of things that I hoped to see in the future. I'm happy to see that two of them have come true:
+ I can pick the candidate that is best for the job rather than "not as bad as the other guy."
For the first time since I was able to vote, I'm excited about the election. In 199, it was simply Clinton Part 2, so I was just excited to be able to vote. Yet, since then, I haven't been able to get excited about any candidate. Gore? Eh. Kerry? Really? However, I am really excited about Obama. I know I'm setting myself up for potential disappointment, but a candidate that thinks that talking to our enemies instead of invading their country? A candidate that actually acknowledges the need for a domestic policy? One who sees the need for alternate energy sources instead of more drilling? I'm hopeful for the first time in years.
+ Non-whites and non-males will hold more offices high in politics.
Wow. Who knew that in one year we'd have both a African-American and a woman as viable presidential candidates? It was an exciting race to watch, and while I'm glad that part was over, it was really cool to have people who are so underrepresented in politics up there as role models.
So, overall, I'm hopeful. The eight year reign of fearmongers and liberty-supressors is almost over and I can see light on the horizon. Maybe next year's message will be one of joy and pride.
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