And now some history: A good read                 July, 4th 2009

Thank you for forwarding this beautiful piece, Joann

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!
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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.

The Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.
Earl

Editorial from A. Gaines, ACU: First of all, I'm sure all those who persecuted those
Patriots have had their reward in hell!  This should be enough to bring tears to the most callous of traitors to this wonderful Country, and the heroic men who helped found it?
Do we celebrate the Courage, Suffering, Personal Tragedy, and the incredible patriotism for their Beloved America?  No, we celebrate their lives and what they did for America.
                                How do we thank them for their sacrifices?
Voting out all corrupt, cynical, self-serving, traitors, sold out, worthless politicians!
Fellow Americans: I challenge you to get involved in the Patriot's movement to take
back our Country.  In the name of God, and the great men who wrote and signed the
Constitution.  Become the Americans you were freed to be!  Not the weak, cowardly ,
feeble minded you have become.  You must not loose your soul!  Dare to put your face
in front of the enemy!  You cannot possibly loose more than what those patriots lost!
Take back our dignity, courage, integrity, love of God, Country and family!
Think of this, and thank our founders for their sacrifices in creating the most wonderful
nation in the whole world!.    
                                                   

                HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
Ag