[DRB]

A bit early but....

Please take few minutes in your day to read what this is all about....

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

That is powerful stuff regardless of your thoughts of current day politicians and the state of the nation.

What of the men that signed the Declaration of Independence.

These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this Declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

It was far from a sure thing that the Revolution could be won and signing the document immediately made them marked men. In the end many did sacrifice their fortunes and lives...

http://usff.com/usff/sacredhonor.html

Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create, is still intact.

And Abraham Clark signer from New Jersey....

He gave two sons to the officer corps in the Revolutionary Army. They were captured and sent to the infamous British prison hulk afloat in New York harbor known as the hell ship "Jersey," where 11,000 American captives were to die. The younger Clarks were treated with a special brutality because of their father. One was put in solitary and given no food. With the end almost in sight, with the war almost won, no one could have blamed Abraham Clark for acceding to the British request when they offered him his sons' lives if he would recant and come out for the King and parliament. The utter despair in this man's heart, the anguish in his very soul, must reach out to each one of us down through 200 years with his answer: "No."

I hope you have a great day.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

What? It's not the celebration of blowin' sh@t up??

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Good read. Thanks for that. Happy 4th

 

[BurlyShirley]

America, **** yeah!

 

[LordOpie]

You mean decision makers back then had to back their words up with their own blood?

I thought they got to sit in an office 1000s of miles away?

 

[TreeSaw]

Morning all! Happy 4th to you! DRB -- thanks for the read It's so easy to forget our roots and it's nice to think about what today really is!

So, today I am busy finalizing everything for the Women's DH Clinic at Whiteface this weekend. I've gotta pack up my gear, get Syds stuff all together for my folks house and then I am picking Tara up from the airport. I am so excited!!!

Other than that, not too much else on the plate except playing with my kid!

 

[MMcG]

Happy Fourth of July Monkeys!

I'm going to start building up an old Marin into an XC bike today. Installed the headset last night. That went well!

Cheers!

Mark

 

[skinny mike]

morning all. i'm going to ride my bicycle soon.

 

[trickten]

Happy 4th kids. I'm just going to see the g.f. for the day, and pack tonight. Tomorrow heading out to the New River in WV to do some whitewater rafting, and rock climbing, then off to Snowshoe to get some killer riding in. WOOHOO!!!

 

[stevew]

Vodka in the freezer for later.

I'm going to take fvcknuts out for a stroll....

 

[jonKranked]

I now am living in california, about a 45 second walk from the beach. **Insert obligatory PIIHB joke here**


Also, I consumed much bacon on my trip cross country. Thread to follow. About the trip, not the bacon or PIIIHB.

 

[OGRipper]

Good morning and happy 4th. It's a gorgeous day in the Yay Area, sunny and warm. Right now I'm all about coffee and the intarweb. Soon I will be all about a long road ride. Later I will be all about stuffing my face with burgers, sausages and beer, outside, hopefully still in the sun. Hope you all have fun today!!

 

[Spudzie]

Happy 4th

make ur own fireworks display.... http://www.maylin.net/Fireworks2.html

 

[Nobody]

Celebrate it, brothers and sisters!

I love my Americano's!

Whooot! Whooot!

Time for some BBQ!

 

[loco-gringo]

Happy 4th. I had a nice road ride and then some folks cooked breakfast at the park. Yum, bacon.

Good read, DRB.

 

[Jim Mac]

Happy 4th and crap. Was planning to do some dh at Jiminy today + dj last night, but we got a bit of a scare at our midwife visit last night and had to run off to the hospital for some testing, with of course 15 minutes before the lab closed- shxt like this always happens right before a holiday - had to dig around for someone to administer the tests...Anyway, got a call from the midwife last night with test results and all is well for now...whew. It's awesome to have such good responsiveness!

Laid low today, did a quick xc ride. Now onward to more baby stuff! Could be any day, now.

Have a good DH clinic @ the 'Face, Treesaw!

 

[sunny]

A bit early but....
Please take few minutes in your day to read what this is all about....

**snip**

And Abraham Clark signer from New Jersey....
I hope you have a great day.

I'm so impressed by your post... I read this earlier today but didn't respond at the time. I've thought about Abraham Clark on and off throughout the day and marveled at the fortitude and resolve of the early Americans.

Thank you for the reminder and the inspiration.