Last Friday, July 4th, we celebrated the 249th anniversary of our nation’s birth. We often forget that from those first shots fired at Lexington and Concord, to the Peace Treaty of Paris, the war lasted eight long years, longer than U.S. involvement in any other war until the Vietnam War. During the news casts and celebratory events, it was common to hear the names of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry and other famous patriots. Those are names we always associate with the founding of our country, but they couldn’t possibly have achieved victory all by themselves. That got me thinking; who were the countless unsung heroes of our nation’s birth and why don’t we know much about them?
Carter Braxton of Virginia was a wealthy businessman whose fleet of ships was destroyed in the war. He was forced to sell his estate to pay his debts and died in poverty.
Thomas Nelson not only consented to the destruction of his home in Yorktown but offered a cash reward to the first cannoneer who could hit it. Why? British General Cornwallis had commandeered the Nelson home for his military headquarters and Thomas preferred to lose his home rather than it be used by the enemy. Nelson died bankrupt.
John Hart and his children were forced to leave his wife’s bedside as she was dying. His farm, crops and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in hiding. Shortly after he returned home alone, he died from sheer exhaustion.
These three men whose names are rarely if ever mentioned shared in common the fact that each had signed the Declaration of Independence – that signature cost them everything.
Of the fifty-six signers, five were captured and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes looted and burned. Two lost their sons in the Colonial Army. Another had two sons captured by the British. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. All were committed to liberty; all paid a horrific paid price for that liberty.
And they are not the only unsung heroes of early American history. Do you recognize these names: John Hanson, Israel Bissell, Mary Pickersgill and Sam Wilson?
Under the Articles of Confederation ratified in 1781 John Hanson was unanimous elected by Congress as President of Congress or sometimes referred to as President of the United States – the first one! He served in that role for one year until George Washington was official elected to that role.
Paul Revere has gone down in history for his legendary twenty-mile midnight ride to warn of the British approach on that famous April evening in 1775. Revere spotted the signal in Boston’s Christ Church steeple – one if by land and two if by sea. Two lanterns swung briefly in the belfry; the British were coming across the water. But at 9:30 that evening – 30 minutes before Revere’s departure – William Dawes, mounted his horse and sped off to warn the countryside. After midnight both men were captured by a British patrol, but Dawes managed to escape. Revere didn’t but was eventually released. However, the British kept his horse, so Paul hiked back to Boston. William Dawes wasn’t honored with a poem, but he was equally important in spreading the news. Or how about Israel Bissell? I suspect you’ve never heard his name, but he rode a record 350 miles in six days warning patriots from Massachusetts to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Betsy Ross may be credited with creating the first flag, but Mary Pickersgill sewed the massive 30’ by 42’ flag unfurled over Ft. McHenry that became the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s Star-Spangled Banner.
In the War of 1812, Sam Wilson supplied salted meats to the new American army. Affectionately known by his employees as Uncle Sam, and with the initials U.S. stamped on meat barrels, you can guess what he inspired.
These lesser-known patriots served with distinction in making the American dream a reality. Due, in part, to their contributions, America would indeed be known for her inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We owe these unsung heroes a debt of gratitude we can never repay. May we be as faithful in entrusting this priceless liberty to succeeding generations of Americans.
The price of our spiritual liberty did not come without cost. The God of the universe willingly paid the ultimate price that we might realize freedom from our sin. Second Corinthians 5:21 states, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. In essence, Jesus absorbed our sin, suffered the penalty of that sin and freed us from that sin once and for all.
We know well the names of Peter, James, Stephen and Paul whose ultimate sacrifices helped pave the way for the spread of the Gospel. And yet, they did not achieve that feat alone. Between the first century and our 21st century, believing multitudes have faithfully passed along the gospel that we might find liberty in Christ. We don’t know their names, their accomplishments, or their sacrifices but we are in their debt. May we be as faithful in entrusting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to succeeding generations that tomorrow’s multitudes will find that same eternal freedom in Jesus!
