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. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. 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!



This was a excerpt of a speech by Richard Skelton He is better known as Red Skelton . He claims he heard this speech as it was given by his principle in Vincantes Indiana in grade school. It was made by his principal.


Boys and girls ,I have been listening to you recite the pledge of allegiance all year long and it seems as if it has become monotonous to you, or could it be you do not understand the meaning of each word? I would like to recite the pledge and give you a definition for each word . I meaning me , a committee of one PLEDGE meaning dedicate all of my worldly goods ALLIENGENCE meaning my love and devotion. TO THE FLAG meaning our standard, old glory a symbol of courage, and where ever she waves there is respect. because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody’s job OF THE UNITED that means that we have all come together, STATES individual communities that have formed fifty great states. Fifty individual communities with pride and purpose, all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united by a common cause .and that is love of country OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC A republic a sovereign state to which the power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern and the government is the people .and its from the people to the leaders not from the leaders to the people FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION meaning so blessed UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE incapable of being divided WITH LIBERTY the freedom for one to live his own life without fears, threats or any sort of retaliation AND JUSTICE the principles and qualities of dealing with others FOR ALL For all boys and girls, it is as much your country as it is mine