The above quote is certainly the most recognizable piece of the composition the spawned the creation of the United States of America. However, it is a sentence at the end of the piece that remains the most poignant to me: "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." The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were acutely aware that their participation in the colonies' separation from Britain and the formation of a new nation could cost them everything, including their lives. As the colonial delegates prepared to sign the document, John Hancock instructed, "There must be no pulling different ways: we must hang together" and legend has it that Benjamin Franklin wryly added " We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
A couple years ago, I received an email forward that detailed the hardships encountered by the signers of the Declaration. Though not entirely factual, it outlined sacrifices of not only specific to the signers who publicly put their names on the document, but also the contributions of all colonists that took up the patriot cause. In our lives, the wars have been fought at a distance and the burden is taken by the men and women who represent our country in the armed forces. During the fight for independence, everyday citizens sacrificed their lives, homes and fortunes. As we celebrate Independence Day, we should certainly celebrate the signers who put themselves at risk by become the figureheads of the revolution, but we should also remember the colonists whose names don't appear the faded piece of parchment. They too, through their bravery and sacrifice, created the backbone of a new nation and made the freedoms we celebrate today a reality.
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