Remember the signers of the Declaration

A significant activity for my Fourth of July celebration will be to reread a wonderful booklet called *They Signed for Us." It contains the stories of the 56 patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence. How many signers can you name? Five of them are relatively well known, but I must confess I had not heard of most of the rest except one who may - or may not - be a distant relative.

Signing called for courage and commitment. If Washington had lost the war, there was the potential of being hanged. They risked not only their lives but also their fortunes. In fact, many, perhaps most, did indeed lose their fortunes. Because the British landed on Long Island, those signers who lived on Long Island were the first to feel the wrath of the British, to have their property confiscated and destroyed. Those who lived in New Jersey were next. Many had to flee for their lives and some had wives and children captured. Some who did not lose everything then donated large sums to the war effort. Courage and a willingness to risk everything for the sake of freedom. Honorable men.

The signer whom most people recognize is John Hancock. The other four that I have heard of are John and Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin. George Washington was not a signer.

The booklet I have is published by Young America's Foundation.

Louis Bowers

Mount Prospect