Happy July 4th

Check out this link

http://home.rochester.rr.com/kuksoolwon/fireworks/Fireworks.html

Remember that Missile Command video game?

Ah, yes:

Fireworks Command!

I didn't write this. But I thought I would share it...

/\/\/

We are one day from one of the most important Holidays of our Nation, so it is time to remember . . .

* * * * * 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 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!

I hope you will show your support by sending this
to as many people as you can, please.
It's time we get the word out:
patriotism is NOT a sin.

The Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games, be thankful for your freedom!!

My thanks to both Terry (cool link!) and Nils for their posts. I recall that there was a Benjamin Rush, who signed the Declaration of Independance adjacent to Benjamin Franklin, but no relation to Howard. Have a safe and sane Independance Day. Steve

Hi,

I am aware of all the hardships that our founding fathers endured to make this great nation of ours. At least some of them managed to get mention in the history books. Some didn't! One who didn't was my 6th great Uncle named Oliver Pollock. Whenever you right down an amount of money you use a $ sign don't you? Guess who invented that sign of U.S. currency? - Yup that's right, Oliver did. He also contributed all of his worldly forture to the Revolutionary cause. Yes, he contributed more that any other single person. Nearly as much in cash and property as the French and Spanish Governments did. Also, after the war in 1804 - upon recovering some funds and getting himself released from debtors prison - He financed an expedition of a couple of early American adventurers. That would be Mr. Louis and Mr. Clark. If you don't believe me get the records out of the Library of Congress about the expidition. Oliver is mentioned on numerous occasions and Mr. Louis stated that the expdition would have been impossible without Oliver's financing it. What thanks did he receive for all these efforts? Well, how about a burial at his son-in-laws home in Pickneyville, MS in 1829? Oliver also fought the Birtish in Louisiana and Florida using Spanish troops loaned to him by the Spanish Governor of Louisiana. He was good friends with the Spanish Governor which led to the Spanish supporting us over the British. One bit of influence that NO other American Revolutionary had at the time! When the British wanted to sail into New Orleans harbor and arrest the revolutionaries that were giving the British so much grief - the Governor - Galvez, I think was his name, told the British to depart or it would be consided an act of war against the Spanish Government. So the British sailed meekly away which allowed Oliver to keep supplying the Revolutionaries with as much Food, Guns and Ammunition as he could get and ship north. Since he was in Louisiana he couldn't be in Philidelphia to sigh the declaration, however one of his best friends was there to do so - and that was enough for Oliver, oh yes, he had many close associations with Mr. Benjamin Franklin who was his close personal friend!

And it's also my birthday!

Hooray!

Tony Elmore