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Freedom Is Never Free

The Aftermath of July 4, 1776

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 of what happened in the Revolutionary War.
We didn't just fight 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...We shouldn't.

So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday
and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid . . .

LET'S ALL REMEMBER THAT FREEDOM IS "NEVER FREE"!!!!
Author unknown.

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Teach America to Pray

Lord, we would bow in need of Thee,
Throughout this land from sea to sea;
From where Atlantic's breakers roar,
To blue Pacific's golden shore.
Oh, may we all in longing say,
Lord, teach America to pray!

May our good land to true and just,
Her motto e'er "In God We Trust."
May she be guided by Thy Word,
Thy wisdom in her halls be heard.
May all who love her plead today,
Lord, teach American to pray.

May we our sins to Thee confess,
Pleading in faith Thy righteousness;
May we again come to Thy throne,
Returning that which is Thine own,
Our broken hearts before Thee lay,
Lord, teach America to pray.

And as her flag unfurls on high
Its starry splendor in the sky,
May we, in grateful thanks to Thee
Who gave to us this land so free,
Preserve her freedom in Thy way,
Lord, teach America to pray.

To pray that cruel war may cease,
That to the world may come Thy peace;
that ever, always at Thy feet,
We may attain communion sweet,
In loving trust to Thee we say,
Lord, teach America to pray!

~Edith A. Wilsey~
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"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart".
Jer 29:11-13 (NIV)

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