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Thread: The 4th of July

  1. #1
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    The 4th of July

    The 4th of July !!

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

    Five signers were captured by theBritish 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 theirlives, 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 largeplantation 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 theBritish 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 theproperties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

    At the battle of Yorktown, ThomasNelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General GeorgeWashington 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 hiswife'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 whileenjoying 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!
    Last edited by rbaker; 06-29-2015 at 02:10 PM.

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    Optical Curmudgeon EyeManFla's Avatar
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    https://youtu.be/vhgfknG8hhg

    Paul Harvey's take on that very question.
    "Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde"

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    Master OptiBoarder mdeimler's Avatar
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    Thank you both for your finds

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    Thank you Dick. I often wonder what has happened for us to forget these great sacrifices. They are still made today by our men and women in uniform, but sadly, as reported this morning, the majority group of Millennials on a beach in California signed a petition (an experiment) to ban Old Glory! I worry about the, but continue to have faith in the American public. I wish all of you a Happy 4th of July, and hope you do remember Dick's post. It is important. May God bless this great nation.

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    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
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    Happy (upcoming) Independence Day to all!!!

    I believe less than 1% of American families have a family member in the military today. God bless them and their sacrifice to let me take my liberty so often for granted.

    Did you know many founding father's believed in some type of Deism while practicing a specific theism. It can help explain why our Founding Fathers believed in God yet insisted on a separation of church and state in the Constitution. Scroll down about half way to see a who's who of American and other intellectuals and revolutionary's who believed in it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism
    Last edited by Uncle Fester; 07-02-2015 at 04:42 PM. Reason: tweak...

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    RETIRED JRS's Avatar
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    Although I am not Jewish, or for that matter religious in any fashion, I did read an interesting book on the Revolution not to long ago. So to add to Dick's original post on what happened to many of the brave people during that time... spend a moment and look up HAYM SALOMON. As in his case, I'm sure there were many more that contributed in a multitude of ways to allow us the freedom we generally take for granted.

    Here's wishing everyone a great 4th !!
    J. R. Smith


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    Optimentor Diane's Avatar
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    Happy Fourth of July. Remember those who have fought for our freedoms from the beginning of time and those who are serving and fighting now. Freedom is not only fought on a battlefield, it is fought everywhere. What freedom is???? God Bless America.

    Diane
    Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

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    One eye sees, the other feels OptiBoard Silver Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by rbaker View Post
    The 4th of July !!

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

    Five signers were captured by theBritish as traitors, and tortured before they died.

    The captured US forces (and some civilians) were not given POW status, but listed as traitors. Hanging was the usual punishment, but there was concern about how this would look "back home".

    The "traitors" were kept in prison ships in New York harbor. Most of the US deaths in this war occurred here.

    In proportion to the size of the general population, this was the second deadliest US war, ahead of WW2, but behind the Civil War.

    http://www.history.com/topics/americ...the-hms-jersey
    Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. - Richard P. Feynman

    Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test before the lesson.



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