Our War Of Independence

From Gary Bauer's End of Day report:

In recent weeks I have kept up a regular stream of reports on the struggles
confronting our country. As the 231st birthday of America dawns tomorrow,
let us set aside these concerns for a moment.

Instead, let us look back to that day in 1776 when 56 men signed the
Declaration of Independence and birthed a nation that was to become a
"shining city on a hill," the guardian of liberty and the leader of the
free world.

They were merchants, farmers, clergymen and lawyers, men who stood to lose
their wealth and standing in society for signing their names to that
document we cherish today. All their lives they had served as loyal
subjects of the king. They were all educated men who understood what they
were undertaking by rebelling against the British Empire.

While honoring their courage, Americans often forget the sufferings of the
Founding Fathers. For the most part, the War for Independence destroyed
the lives of these men.

John Hart, signer from New Jersey, had to flee the deathbed of his wife,
leaving his 13 children to disperse into hiding from the British, who
vandalized his farm. Returning a year later to find that his wife had
passed away, his children were missing, and his livelihood had been
destroyed. He died within weeks, dejected and alone.

Carter Braxton, a signer from Virginia, had his fortunes destroyed by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died
impoverished.

At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., signer from Virginia,
encouraged General Washington to fire on Nelson’s own house, which was
being used as a headquarters by General Cornwallis. Without a home, and
having lost his fortunes in the war, Nelson died bankrupt.

These are just a few examples of the sacrifices these men made for the
United States when it was little more than an idea. Countless more over
the history of this nation have given their lives for the cause of liberty.
And today in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are sacrificing again for our
nation.

As we celebrate and enjoy our freedoms on this Independence Day, let us not
forget the daily sacrifices of our men and women overseas. Let us
rededicate our hearts to our country and "with a firm reliance on the
protection of Divine Providence…mutually pledge to each other our Lives,
our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

In closing, I would like to offer a brief word of encouragement to our
pastors who are on the front lines of the culture war. John Peter Gabriel
Muhlenberg is a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence. He was a
pastor and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775, a year
before the United States of America was to be born, he preached a sermon on
Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season and a time for every
matter under heaven." Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with, "In the
language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to
preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight." And
temporarily shedding his clerical robes, he revealed to the congregation
that he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army.