Remember our Founding Father's hopes this Declaration of Independence

I know we are past the 4th of July but when it comes to our Declaration of Independence I guess it’s better late than never. Besides it is still July.

More than a year ago I joined a book club solely to study our American history and to learn more about the Founding Fathers. I discovered 56 very brave and patriotic men who crossed the ocean to escape anarchy and tyranny. I never realized that when they signed the Declaration of Independence, they were not yet free. This small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, in an ideal they believed in so greatly that their signature put their very lives at risk. They were now marked men.

One of the ladies in our book club researched information regarding the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence: five were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died; 12 had their homes burned to the ground; two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army and two more had sons captured; and nine fought in a bloody Revolutionary War.

Twenty four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated and smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway and God bless them for it.

As we enjoyed our liberty on this 4th of July, it is my opinion that we are at risk of losing the very freedom they fought and died for. It is every American citizen’s duty to educate him or herself of what our Founding Fathers have given us so we can continue the fight to keep it. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way as long as “we the people” remember that just like they did in 1776.

The signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I suggest that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own - to remember, to be grateful and to carry on in their spirit. Declare your independence this July and never back down. God Bless America.