It's our Independence Day!
Posted on Fri, Jul 01, 2011
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It's our Independence Day!
A day for BBQ, for fireworks, for family. And of course the great decision that every community in our area has to make is whether to have our fireworks shows due to fire danger from our extended drought! Those decisions are important to us - but there were some decisions reached with great courage in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776, when fifty-six men signed their names to a document that would bring freedom to all Americans. But it could have just as easily left every one of them hanging from a gallows!
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Have you ever wondered what happened to these 56 men?
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Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. |
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Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. |
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Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had
two sons captured. |
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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. |
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What kind of men were they?
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Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners. |
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These were not wild-eyed terrorists. They were not politicians. They were hard-working, well-educated, and respected in their communities. |
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When they signed the Declaration of Independence they knew full well that they would hang if they were captured. |
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They left to us a free and independent America ... at a great cost. So, take a few minutes as you celebrate this weekend, and thank God for these patriots.
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Tim Allen
Regional Sales Director
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