Makes me kind of wonder if I have the same courage to take such a stand as they did. With so many socialist ideas subtly worming their way into our government these days, how long will it be before we have to take a stand against our government as they did in 1776? I know this doesn't have anything to do with pianos, but this is, afterall, the Fourth of July. Gary McCormick ----- Original Message ----- From: Jon Page <jonpage@mediaone.net> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 10:56 AM Subject: Re: The Flag > The 56 Patriots Who Signed > The Declaration of Independence > > REMEMBERING INDEPENDENCE DAY > > 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. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. > Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and > sacrifices of the American Revolution. > > These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men > of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. > Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: > > For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of > the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our > fortunes, and our sacred honor. > > They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never > told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight > just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own > government! > > 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! > > ~ Author Unknown ~ >
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