Hi I'm Jack

Hi I'm Jack
I started this blog to let people know about my Friday adventures. And I continue it for Ryan, and now Ruby thinks she is going to take over.(Mike Timlin and Tim Wakefield at the road race.)

Friday, July 3, 2009

The Fourth

In case anyone is trying to find me this weekend. I am back at my secret location relaxing.

Enjoy your Fourth!!
Here is a little history lesson for you

THE 4TH OF JULY
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 torturedbefore 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 theRevolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and theirsacred 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,ThomasNelson,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!
Grandad wants me to editorialize my post to add why can't Massachusetts get Statesmen like above. Why Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barney Frank and the other goof balls that are in there right now? Where are all the patriots?
I didn't think it would be a good idea, but you know how demanding he is.
Love Jack

PS this is a picture of my Great Grandparents, they own the secret location place.