Dear Family & Friends,

"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."

Those words are at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. While these are some of the most significant and important parts of this document and in the history of this nation, there's one part that doesn't get quoted as often nor with the same emphasis. It comes at the end of the Declaration and reads as follows:

"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".

227 years ago, 56 men representing the 13 colonies stood in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall) and put these words on paper. With a pledge of their lives, their fortunes and their honor, these men pledged everything they had. The closing of the Declaration of Independence shows that our Founding Fathers knew that freedom would not be won with words alone. We were going to have to fight for it and some would make the ultimate sacrifice.

In all, five of the fifty-six were captured by the British and tortured. Twelve had their homes ransacked, looted, confiscated by the enemy, or burned to the ground. Seventeen lost their fortunes. Two lost their sons in the army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six lost their lives in the war, from wounds or hardships inflicted by the enemy.

It is important to remember that despite the hardships, not a single one of them defected or failed to honor his pledge. They paid their price and freedom was born.

Over the last two centuries, our country has fought many battles from within and without. From Yorktown, to Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Anzio, Normandy, KheSan, Saigon, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq, men and women who believed in that same pledge have fought and died for our country.

From a nation of peasants and farmers, we have grown to be a country unlike any other. Our flag flies now over hallowed battlefields where we fought tyranny and oppression - not on our own land, but those of our allies; not to conquer, but to liberate. Our flag flies on the moon as a testament to the power and ability of this, the greatest nation. Our flag flew at the World Trade Center when those who would see this land torn asunder, performed a cowardly act against us.

Did we falter? Did we fail? Most certainly not!

Through it all, by the grace of Almighty God, we preserved our national unity and became the greatest nation this world has ever seen.

As you get ready for the holiday, have the picnics, parades and fireworks. But, let's remember what it took to give it to us and pray that we have the fortitude and the honor to preserve and protect it.

How many of us could and would honestly sign a pledge that stated, "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" . . . and mean it?

God Bless You & God Bless America!

Tony