THANK THE PATRIOTS WHO SACRIFICED FOR LIBERTY

The signers of the Declaration of Independence, one writer reminds us, "were men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration knowing full well that the penalty would be death of they were captured. Five signers were captured by the British ... 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 ... War.

"Carter Braxton ... saw his ships swept from the sea by the British Navy. He sold his home ... to pay his debts and died in rags. Thomas McKeam ... served in Congress without pay ... his possessions taken ... and poverty was his reward.

"At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British Gen. Cornwallis had taken over his home for his headquarters. He quietly urged Gen. Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

"John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she lay dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning 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. ... They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall and straight, they pledged: `For the support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.'

"So, take a couple of minutes ... and silently thank these patriots ... ."