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FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

JULY 4, 2003

Rocco-Welch Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 8673 and Auxiliary


WAKE UP!

Wake up all you citizens, hear your county's call.
Not to arms and violence, but peace for one and all.
Crush out hate and prejudice, fear and greed and sin
Help bring back her dignity, restore her faith again.

Work hard for a common cause, don't let our country fall.
Make her proud and strong again, democracy for all.
Yes, make our country strong again, keep our flag unfurled.
Make our country well again, respected by the world.

Make her whole and beautiful, work from sun to sun.
Stand tall and labor side by side, because there's so much to be done
Yes, make her whole and beautiful, united strong and free.
Wake up, all you citizens, It's up to you and me.


Pansy Myers Schroeder


Program

ROCCO-WELCH MEMORIAL
VFW POST 8673
AND LADIES AUXILIARY


Present Colors -- Post Commander
Welcome -- Yvonne Webster (Auxiliary Americanism Chairman)
Opening Prayer -- Steve Doane (Post Chaplain)
Flag Raising -- Mike Grant (Jr Vice Commander) and Steve Doane
Auxiliary President -- Lisa Grant
Pledge of Allegiance -- Everyone
Music -- National Anthem

4TH OF JULY
VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department of Ohio Americanism Chairman -- Theresa Weaver

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

VFW District 3 Commander -- Mike Webster
VFW District 3 President -- Pat Henry
VFW District 3 Americanism Chairman -- Linda Hall
Clark County Veterans Service Center -- Tom Storer
Post Commander -- Paul Fultz
Auxiliary President -- Lisa Grant
Closing Prayer -- Everyone


LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father Which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temption, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever

Release of balloons -- Everyone

Program

VFW Post 1031 Jr Girls
** Made Corsages and Ribbons
** Donated Cookies
** Posted District 3 Colors

Hellen Aldridge
** Made Flags used as gifts for all present

Jamie Chambliss
** Portrayed Betsy Ross

Torey Barlow
** Portrayed Uncle Sam




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