In the year 1781, Philip Livingston lost two homes and much of his business profit. Lewis Morris lost his magnificent estate which was sacked and burnt, forcing him to live in poverty for years. Richard Stockton was arrested and subjected to frequent beatings and starvation. John Hart was hunted by soldiers and dogs and forced to hide in caved during icy December winters. Thomas Heyward Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutlage were shipped to the stockades in Flordia, where they died. Why am I telling you this? What do these men have to do with you? These men were all signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Surprised? Sadly, these are only a few of hundreds of thousands of people who have contributed to the fight for freedom and go unnoticed. The question I would like to pose today is: do we care? Please forgive my bluntness. But do we care? People who have had parents, grandparents, siblings, or other loved ones fight in wars to protect our country probably appreciate this sacrifice more. But what about the rest of us? If we have no immediate connection to someone who has fought or is fighting for our freedom, then is our responsibility as American Citizens to value our freedom void? No.
But this responsibility is not hard. Men and women have given and are giving everything they have for us. Can't we even find a few spare minutes to reflect on their lives and being truly thankful? Memorial Day, The Fourth of July: are these holidays for drinking and partying it up? No. I will not discount spending time with family and celebrating in whatever form you may choose, but on these days set apart from the rest of the calendar, couldn't we take some time to remember our country's freedom and the price paid for it? Darryl Worley wrote these words in a song: "I just came back from a place where they hated me and everything I stand for; a land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore." Take a minute. Shed a tear. We owe them that much.
There are people who have died to establish and keep the freedoms we live on today; people like Philip Livingston, Lewis Morris, Richard Stockton, John Hart, Thomas Heyward Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutlage. There are people who know these names and others and bow their heads in reverence for their sacrifice. There are people who appreciate their freedoms and use them, not abuse them. There are people who make small, simple efforts every day. These are the people who show that they care.
Will we be one of them?
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"Just tell us you love us, and never forget. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough, and with that we will trust: that we mattered to you as you mattered to us." --Anonymous
"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me: give me liberty, or give me death." --Patrick Henry
"And may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." --Samuel Adams
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange, indeed, if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." --Thomas Paine
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Today's Featured Quote:
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
I really think most Americans care about those people who sacrificed so much for their dream, but I think very few of us really understand what they went through, and sometimes that makes it hard to appreciate things. But I do think we should take more pride in our country and armed forces. We have no idea what they put on the line for each one of us every single day.
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