On June 7, 1776, in the Continental Congress, a resolution of independence was proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. A committee of five was appointed to draft a document explaining to the world why the colonies were taking this position. The committee consisted of
1. John Adams, a representative of Massachusetts (who later became our second president);
2. Thomas Jefferson, a representative of Virginia (who later became our third president);
3. Benjamin Franklin, a representative of Pennsylvania (one of the most famous of the Founding Fathers, and our first Minister to France);
4. Roger Sherman, a representative of Connecticut ( the only person to sign the 1774 Continental Association (creating an economic boycott of Great Britain,) the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation (under which the colonies operated from 1781 to 1789,) and the Constitution); and
5. Robert Livingston, a representative of New York (who later negotiated the Louisiana Purchase as Minister to France)
The freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain was born during the afternoon of July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress voted to approve Lee’s resolution. The Continental Congress debated and ultimately changed some of the language in the Committee’s draft of the Declaration and, on the morning of July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration.
Historians have disputed whether the Continental Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4. However, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed the document on July 4, 1776. Many historians believe that the Declaration was actually signed on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.
Nonetheless, we celebrate July 4th as Independence Day. We celebrate with parades, cookouts, fireworks, and tons of alcohol.
Some of us get drunk and cause accidents. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration reports that, in 2014, over the 4th of July holiday, 164 people were killed in crashes involving at least one drunk driver. Yes, drunk drivers killed 164 people over the Fourth of July! That’s maybe 300 or more little children asking why mommy’s crying and when is daddy’s coming home. It may represent 120 or more husbands and wives thinking about all the things they’ll never get to say to their spouse, wondering when their heart will stop aching. Perhaps there are as many as 300 parents wondering why they must help with funeral arrangements for a child who “should have” outlived the parents. What a tragedy!
On average, 230 people go the emergency room every day in the four weeks surrounding the holiday due to fireworks-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product safety Commission. Certainly, that is a lesser tragedy, but some of those people will have lost fingers or eyes because of a stupid and careless fireworks accident that should have never happened. And, no doubt, some of those injured are teens who, prior to their injuries, thought that they were invincible.
Of course, the freedom that we celebrate came at a price. The cliché is hackneyed but oh so true: freedom is not free! Approximately 25,000 Americans lost their lives while in service during the Revolutionary War. Some were killed in battle while some were wounded and later died of injuries. Some died due to diseases like dysentery. Some died due to exposure and malnutrition.
If the number of casualties does seem very high, consider this perspective. At the time the hostilities commenced, the population of the colonies was approximately 2,500,000. Therefore, the deaths in service accounted for 1% of the population. The current US population is estimated at 318,900,000. If 1% of our population died in military service now, that would be 3,189,000 deaths!
My great-great-great-great-great-great uncle was Theophilus Weeks, born in 1760. He enlisted in the Continental Army on May 3, 1776, one month before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. He was only 16 years old. Theophilus’ mother – Zillar – was concerned about the safety of her son and his father – Silas - was a patriot, so Zillar did not need to offer much encouragement for Silas to enlist and serve in the same unit in 1777. That would allow Silas to make sure that Theophilus remained safe.
Both fought under Gen. George Washington in the battles at Brandywine on September 11, 1777 and at Germantown on October 4, 1777. Both battles resulted in American defeats; following these setbacks, Gen. Washington took his troops to winter at Valley Forge in December, 1777. Washington was very fond of the North Carolina troops, as they had the lowest desertion rate of any of the troops. Remember, at this point, our army was a group of volunteers who had very few supplies, very meager rations, and they had yet to win any of their battles.
In February, 1777, the infamous Prussian Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge with a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. He quickly organized the troops and began training exercises to turn them into a competitive fighting force. The efforts of von Steuben, together with the eventual support of the French naval forces, are widely regarded as the two most important factors in the outcome of the war.
The troops were still at Valley Forge when Silas died on 22 May 1778, probably as a result of disease. Theophilus remained in the Army and fought in the Battle of Monmouth (in which neither side could claim victory but it was the first engagement which proved that American forces could fight on an equal level with the British troops. It proved to be the stimulus that boosted American morale.)
Theophilus was discharged at White Plains, New York on November 10, 1778. The veteran of three significant battles, Theophilus returned home at age 18 to take care of his mother. Zillar never remarried and she died within a few years.
My great- great- great- great- great- great- great-uncle Benjamin Kenton was the seventh of nine children born to Mark Kenton, an Irish emigrant, and his wife Mary. Benjamin enlisted in the 11th Virginia Regiment, 7th Company of the Continental Line and died at Philadelphia on 26 JUL 1777 in defense of the Continental capital.
I am proud of my ancestors, but Silas Weeks and Benjamin Kenton were not heroes. They were ordinary people who fought for freedom and paid the ultimate price. They are not remembered and exalted by historians; except to a few of their descendants, these men are forgotten . . . but their legacy is undeniable.
They are only two of the deaths incurred in that war. In all, 25,000 men died in military service to the colonies, securing to us the liberty which has endured this far.
Our American Revolution has inspired other revolutions by people who sought freedom. Our Declaration of Independence has been studied and praised internationally. The history of our country is replete with good works performed abroad as well as at home. There are some who want to apologize for the greatness of this country but I am not one of the apologists. I certainly acknowledge the flaws within our country and we have made some blunders in foreign relations but, because of our country, many people in other parts of the world have freedom. I am not an arrogant American but I am a proud American and no one will ever take that away from me.
Celebrate the Fourth of July but remember that our freedoms were given to us because someone else paid the price. We have an obligation to ensure that the same freedoms are preserved for our children and their children.
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