We Must All Hang Together.....

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."--from the Declaration of Independence, July 1776.


It's July 4th.
Please enjoy this clip from the HBO miniseries "John Adams".
And remember the sacrifices our fore bearers endured to secure our liberties.

I feel this stuff deeply since I am directly or by-marriage related to 5 of the 7 Signers to this document from the Virginia Delegation to the 2nd Continental Congress.
Yep, I come from a long line of Virginia rebels.......



Then, to paraphrase my esteemed cousin, Sonya Ann "Go celebrate by drinking and blowing shit up".

Yours in Liberty,

Sluggy


 

The Birth of a New Republic

While you indulge in grilled foods and summer fruits among good company, remember what this day is really about.

Courageous people....some ordinary men, some who risked everything to come to a new land to make a life for themselves that was better than anything they could hope for in their old world.   People who stood up to a tyrannt despite the real threat of being arrested and hanged for their disobedience.  People who put their lives on the line to fight for their new nation.

Here's one who did just that....

Robert Foster.
A 4th Generation born American. His Great Grandfather came here in 1635, at the age of 16.
He is my 6 x Great Grandfather.
One of my own Revolutionary War Ancestors.
The VA 15th Regiment he was part of saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Germantown, the Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. After the Germantown engagement in October 1777, they spent the winter with Commander Geo. Washington in Valley Forge.
Robert Foster died in Spartanburg County SC, at the age of 64, and is buried in Robebuck SC.
I hope to visit his resting place some day.

Go back in your mind and try to see and feel what it might have been like to be alive in 1776 and to be standing on your town square hearing what many call one of the Greatest Documents ever written, being read aloud.....




Happy 4th!

Sluggy

236 Years Later....It's Still Too Hot!

Starting the July 4th party here a bit early.  Working on some cooking and cleaning today so except for the smoker duty tomorrow I can relax.

A drink or two will help speed along the work today....

It's always a good time of year to go watch "1776" or the HBO series "John Adams".

From the 1972 film....

If you prefer "live action" theater, here's the scene from the Broadway revival done in 1997 instead....



And this clip just proves nothing has changed in 236 years.......not in Congress or Philadelphia.....lol




Sluggy