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FReeper Canteen ~ God Bless America ~ Happy 4th of July ~ July 4 2004
Patriots and FRiends of the Canteen

Posted on 07/03/2004 8:02:37 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub


 
~ Happy Birthday America ~
The Declaration Of Independence

 
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

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 the 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.


 

America 1776 - America 2004

America 1776 - The population was nearing a million or had just crossed over the million mark.

America 2004 - The estimated population is 293 million people.

America 1776 - Average children in a family were 6.3
America 2004 - Average children in a family dropped to 2.07

America 1776 - America's largest city was Philadelphia (pop.34,000)
America 2004 - America's largest city is New York City (pop. 8 million)

America 1776 - There were no telephones in America
America 2004 - (186 million main lines & 140 million cell users)

America 1776 - Ninety percent of the American population worked in the Agricultural field.
America 2004 - Only 2.4 percent of the population now works in an Agricultural related field.

America 1776 - There would become 13 States.
America 2004 - There are now 50 states with over 17 territories.

To find out more information please visit here and here.
 

 

As we celebrate another American birthday, we ask that you remember the reason for our celebrations. This Nation was born with the blood, sweat, and tears of average farmers trying to make a new life for themselves and their families.  It set us apart then. It still does today.

As you celebrate, please say a prayer for the protection of our brave heroes. As you eat your hot dogs and spend time with family and friends, please take a moment to think about a soldier far from home. As you watch the fireworks, remember the tradition of the American Soldiers and Sailors.
 

Please post any 4th of July celebrations or ways you will be honoring our Troops. Please stay safe and have fun!!!
 

 




 


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1 posted on 07/03/2004 8:02:38 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thank you, Skipper.


2 posted on 07/03/2004 8:04:40 PM PDT by Old Sarge (2004: Win One More For The Gipper!)
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To: xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; The Sailor; kjfine; Old Sarge; USAF_TSgt; darkwing104; txradioguy; ...
Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread
The FR Canteen would also like to
Thank all our active duty posters and lurkes.
Thank You for helping keep all of us Free.




FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.






FIREWORKS! by jriemer
2nd Annual Viking Kittie Lightning Strike

3 posted on 07/03/2004 8:05:19 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: Old Sarge
Thank You for helping protect us and our Freedom!
4 posted on 07/03/2004 8:08:05 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: jriemer

Thanks for the fireworks!


5 posted on 07/03/2004 8:09:08 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: The Sailor; kjfine; Old Sarge; USAF_TSgt; darkwing104; txradioguy; Long Cut; Jet Jaguar; armyboy; ..

6 posted on 07/03/2004 8:11:05 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; bentfeather; beachn4fun; Fawnn; Ragtime Cowgirl; ...
From the men in the Military and the Canteen


7 posted on 07/03/2004 8:13:07 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: All
To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.


To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The FR Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.

The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.


FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.


Click on a service emblem to send an online
Thank You to a service man or woman in any branch.


U.S. Arny U.S. Navy U.S. Marines U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard
Army
Navy
Marines
Air Force
Coast
Guard

8 posted on 07/03/2004 8:14:51 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
God Bless America!!!

9 posted on 07/03/2004 8:18:18 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Make Hillary happy.... IGNORE the Freepathon!!!!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

10 posted on 07/03/2004 8:19:11 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~The Dragon Flies' Lair~ Poetry and Prose~)
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To: All
Fourth Of July Music Celebration
(July 3rd FR Canteen thread)
All the music is in the opening table.

11 posted on 07/03/2004 8:19:33 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; freedox; chesty_puller; GRRRRR; MouthOfTheSouth; Memother; joan_30; ...

Take a moment to silently thank our nations
TRUE Patriots on this July 4th, 1999

Thanks to Bob Aldrich for sharing this

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. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more.

Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:

"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor".

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War.

We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted.....we shouldn't.

So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots...

Thank you Founding Fathers

12 posted on 07/03/2004 8:21:40 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK ("In America, our origins matter less than our destinations, and that is what democracy is all about")
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; PhilDragoo; Ragtime Cowgirl; Cindy; SusanTK; AdmSmith; Valin; ...


GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS

13 posted on 07/03/2004 8:22:47 PM PDT by Smartass ( BUSH & CHENEY IN 2004 - Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió.)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

14 posted on 07/03/2004 8:25:10 PM PDT by The Mayor (The race of life is run by faith and won by grace.)
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To: RaceBannon; All
Please help if you can.
Sporting Goods drive for our troops and Iraqi Kids

15 posted on 07/03/2004 8:25:15 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; All
Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners . . . have a fantastic 4th of july.


16 posted on 07/03/2004 8:26:52 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
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To: HopeandGlory
One Nation Under God

AMEN
17 posted on 07/03/2004 8:27:53 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy 4th of July America!)
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To: dredhawk; All



Click the Icon!!

A Charlie Daniels Triple Play!



 

 

18 posted on 07/03/2004 8:28:26 PM PDT by MoJo2001 (A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt.)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Hope all my friends at the Canteen have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

God bless all of our veterans, and those still serving our country, on this special day.


19 posted on 07/03/2004 8:31:26 PM PDT by LisaMalia (In Memory of Sgt. James W."Billy" Lunsford..KIA 11-29-69 Binh Dinh S. Vietnam)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Thank you Tonkin
and other Patriots and FRiends of the Canteen
for today's thread.

Happy Independence Day!! Let's Celebrate!


20 posted on 07/03/2004 8:32:29 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
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