I addressed America’s 250th Anniversary a couple of weeks ago but given its momentous nature and historic significance, I thought I would more fully develop my thoughts.

I reflect on our liberty that has been guaranteed to us throughout America’s history only by the great sacrifice—the “last full measure of devotion”—of the 1.1 million Americans who died—and millions more who were grievously wounded—defending the freedoms we often take for granted.

I think of General George Washington who bravely held together a rag tag army, many of whom had neither shoes in that freezing weather nor a weapon, to defeat the British army and secure America’s independence.

I think of the Framers as they sat in the miserable heat of that Philadelphia convention hall from May to September 1787 with no cooling breeze of any kind because they had no choice but to keep the doors and windows closed so as not to have it discovered that they were writing a constitution rather than doing what they were supposed to be doing—revising the Articles of Confederation.

I think again of George Washington who reluctantly served as president of the convention and literally said nothing for the 4 months of the convention. Yet, his mere presence in the room conveyed a moral authority and dignity upon the gathering that did nothing less than hold the often-volatile proceedings together.

I think of Benjamin Franklin also, who, after weeks of sitting quietly in the convention hall, realized that the delegates were making only “small progress” and he implored the men to begin praying each morning before they began their deliberations.

Franklin rose, unsteady on his feet in his late 80s and with a weak voice. “I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it likely an empire can rise without His aid?” The delegates did begin praying after that and they began to make progress.

I am deeply moved recalling the sacrifices of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who knew they were committing treason by signing and the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the war. (The Price They Paid, The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.)

Another lost his ships to the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags. One was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. (Id.)

The properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton were looted. At the Battle of Yorktown, British General Cornwallis had taken over the home of Thomas Nelson, Jr. for his headquarters. Nelson quietly urged General George Washington to open fire on his home, which was done. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. (Id.)

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his grist mill were laid waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead, his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. (Id.)

The men who signed the document were men of means and education who had security but valued liberty more. (Id.) They stood together bravely and vowed that “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

President Reagan said,

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will tell our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

At this amazing 250th anniversary we should never forget such men and such sacrifice, without which our Nation would not have existed or endured.