Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

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, Rutledge, 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!

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 patriotism
is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games.

A single moment of understanding can flood a whole life with meaning.

112288

As an aerial gunner on a B-24 Liberator he flew 28 combat missions with the 15th Air Force in World War II, earning seven medals.
Shortly after VE Day, as his unit broke camp in central Italy, Johnny wandered up a nearby hillside to a graveyard filled with American flags, his final visit to fallen comrades before returning home to the Bronx. A prolific poet, he penned these lines:



“I stood among the graves today and swept the scene with sight.
“And the corps of men who lay beneath looked up to say goodnight.
“The thunder still, the battle done, the fray has passed them by;
“and as they rest forever more, they must be asking, ‘Why?’”

Johnny Most



thanks for all whom served and are serving

beat

GOD BLESS ALL OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING OUR GREAT NATION TO KEEP US SAFE AND FREE............AND TO THOSE WHO WEAR A FACELESS MASK..........WHO MUST WORK IN THE CLOAK OF SECRECY .........MAY GOD PROTECT YOU IN YOUR MISSION TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES SAFE AND FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1122888

As the father of one of the "faceless mask" people, I appreciate your remembering them. All 's publicly revealed about her organization is that their mission is to help keep the U.S. from being surprised. Not a lot to hang your hat on...and especially of concern when she's traveling to far flung places.

Happy Fourth everyone.

Sam

SAM,

I JUST HOPE WE CAN KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THE 4TH OF JULY IN THE MIND AND HEARTS OF ALL AMERICANS............365 DAYS OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

112288

"If we don't hang together, we will all hang separately". Ben Franklin was right and those brave men did "hang together". I wish that our current leaders had the courage and foresight to read and heed those words today. Thanks and blessings to all that have made this country great.

A great topic to post and a great reminder.

Despite any imperfection or faults, this is still the greatest nation ever assembled on the face of the earth.

It is up to "We the People" to make sure it remains that way.

It is with something of a heavy heart that I feel obligated to point out that much of what is said in the original post on this thread isn't accurate. This is a chain email that has made the rounds for years.

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

112288, I appreciate your intentions in posting it, and I hope you don't mind me pointing out the issue with its accuracy. I confess to having no understanding why people create false emails like this, especially about a topic such as this. The sad part is that it wouldn't be hard to put together an equally inspiring and factual email about the founding fathers and leaders during the American Revolution.

I certainly don't mean to lessen anyone's patriotic feelings on our nation's birthday. I have been Scoutmaster for our boy scout troop, and we take particular pride in the flag ceremonies we perform, expend effort to educate ourselves and others in the nuances of flag etiquette, and participate in 4th of July parades in our community. My youngest son will be entering the military in December. We have much to be proud of and celebrate. I'd say that was the intent of 112288's post, and on that, I can heartily agree.

Outside

Thanks Outside.

The email was forwarded to me from the former Vice Chairman of General Electric. So getting something like this from him...should have been gold.

112288

Outside,

I am curious, what parts are not true and can you cit them for my own edification.

Carter Braxton - after searching is factual, same for Thomas McKeam.

Curious. Interested in hearing what you find.

112288

Only 22% of today's Congress have served in the military.

Only about a dozen children of members of Congress are in the military.

>90% of the members of Congress like to talk as if they did.

bob

.

112288 wrote:Outside,

I am curious, what parts are not true and can you cit them for my own edification.

Carter Braxton - after searching is factual, same for Thomas McKeam.

Curious. Interested in hearing what you find.

112288

112288, just click on the link to snopes.com in my previous post. It goes through the email in a lot of detail.

Outside Thanks

112288