Happy 4th

[ZippoGeek]

Everyone stay safe. Don't mix fireworks and alcohol (DAMHIK: Don't Ask Me How I Know!) Have a blessed 4th!

 

[SailorAg]

Happy Birthday the greatest country to have ever existed on this Earth! Enjoy the celebrations, family, friends, food, music, fireworks. Stay safe and have fun.

May God continue to smile upon the United States of America and may he bless our leaders with wisdom.

 

[SailorAg]

"[Independence Day], will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever." -John Adams in a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams.

 

[SailorAg]

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." - The conclusion of The Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson.

 

[GWBowman]

Happy 4th of july wknd to all. May u all enjoy good cigars n good times with family n friends. Special thank u to all the botl n sotl that served in the military or have family in the military. Your service is greatly appreciated. God Bless

Well said.

 

[GWBowman]

Happy Independence Day. Blessed to be born in this great land. No country has ever grown and prospered at this incredibly quick rate. I don't believe any other country has served and been a help to the rest of the world to this degree.

For all our problems, and we have many, the United States is still the greatest country now and ever before.

God has blessed America and I pray He will continue to do so.

 

[ZippoGeek]

Happy Independence Day. Blessed to be born in this great land. No country has ever grown and prospered at this incredibly quick rate. I don't believe any other country has served and been a help to the rest of the world to this degree.

For all our problems, and we have many, the United States is still the greatest country now and ever before.

God has blessed America and I pray He will continue to do so.

Amen and amen.

 

[plumber1965]

Got this from my 75 year old retired Air Force Lt Colonel Father this morning:

For those of you that hadn't thought about these brave and honorable men..... Take a few moments to read this and pass it on to you friends and their children.....


Our 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 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 theirlives, 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! We thank these early patriots, as well as those patriots now fighting to KEEP Patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more MEANING to it than beer, fireworks, HOT DOGS, and picnics

I thank god that these men had the courage and fortitude to commit to this endevour. May we all remember them and enjoy the fruits of thier labors.