FREE
VOL 4 ISSUE 5
JULY 2019
CC BIKER & MOTORSPORTS
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY….PLEASE, THANK A VET!!!
men (the British, the Crown, Great Britain, lobster backs, and What do you think of when you regulars, and of course, the Red think the 4th of July? Fireworks? Coats). Throughout the course Bar-B-Que? Hanging out at the of the war, an estimated 6,800 lake with friends? If you really Americans were killed in action, think about it, all of these things 6,100 wounded, and upwards of are made possible by veterans… 20,000 were taken prisoner. Even from our Revolumore died from distion against Enease while being gland to the current held as prisoners pending “action” of war, but no acwith Iran! tual data exists on that. The King of July 4, 1776…..the England lost apday that 13 coloproximately 24,000 nies claimed their men. This total independence from number includes England, an event battlefield deaths which eventually and injuries, deaths from disease, led to the formation of the United States. Conflict between the men taken prisoner, and those colonies founded by the people who remained missing. Finally, who wanted to be free from the the Continental Army rule of the king and the Church force the British surof England and the “Mother render at Yorktown, Land” (England) was already a Virginia, in 1781, the year old when the colonies con- Americans had efvened a Continental Congress fectively won their inin Philadelphia in the summer of dependence, though 1776. In a June 7 session in the fighting would not Pennsylvania State House (lat- formally end until er Independence Hall), Richard 1783. Henry Lee of Virginia presented a This was just the resolution with the famous words: first of wars in which “Resolved: That these United American soldiers Colonies are, and of right ought to fought for the freedoms we enjoy be, free and independent States, today. After that came the War of that they are absolved from all 1812; the Mexican-American war allegiance to the British Crown, in which the United States gained and that all political connection sovereignty over Texas and Calibetween them and the State of fornia (among other territories inGreat Britain is, and ought to be, cluding what is now New Mexico totally dissolved.” The Declara- and Arizona) through the Treaty tion of Independence was drafted of Guadalupe Hildago; and then by Thomas Jefferson, and on July the bloodiest battle and the only 4 the Declaration was officially one that took place entirely on adopted. Of the 13 colonies, nine American soil: the Civil War. This voted in favor of the Declaration, war alone killed almost 600,000 two -- Pennsylvania and South Americans on both sides, injured Carolina -- voted No, Delaware over 469,000, and imprisoned was undecided and New York 675,000 (of which 62,000 died as abstained. POWs). No matter what side won, What followed was seven years this was an American war; almost of fighting between our forces, 4 million black slaves were grantwho were known as patriots, rev- ed their freedom; allowing people olutionaries, continentals, colo- of all colors, races and creeds to nials, rebels, Yankees, or Whigs. access the same freedoms. Kelli Langley WRITER
However, those who remained faithful to the Crown were known as loyalists, Royalists, King’s Men, or Tories, against the King’s
The Spanish-American war followed the Civil War, in 1898, and for a while America lived in peace. Of course, that didn’t last: in
1914, the “War to End All Wars”, or as it as known now, the First World War, erupted, and American forces were called upon to fight the Communist regimes of Europe and Asia. That conflict killed over 120,000 Americans, and Communism was at least held to certain European nations and was not an issue with the rest of the world.
Then came the war of the “Greatest Generation”…. 16 million Americans (over 11% of the population), mostly 17, 18 and 19 year olds who enlisted, were not drafted, served in Europe and the Pacific, to stem the communist tide of Germany, Italy and Japan. Over 400,000 of these brave young men (and a few women) gave their lives to protect the freedom of Americans. This generation literally sacrificed everything to make this country the “land of the free, home of the brave”. If you should come across any of these old-timers, please give them thanks, if not for them, we would be speaking German or Japanese. The Korean War followed 5 years after; in actuality war was never declared by the U.S., it was considered a “police action”. That “police action” killed almost 40,000 Americans who were over there doing their best to keep democracy safe.
and Afghanistan, which has cost the United States 5,000 military members. The one thing all of these wars have in common is that they were fought to keep American citizens free of tyranny and oppression. Our nation has more freedoms than any other in the world today; we can (supposedly) speak freely, arm ourselves, and live and love as we want. We have the right to criticize our government without fear of repercussions, we have the right to a fair trial and to be judged by a jury of our peers, we have the right to vote for the person we want to represent us. All of these freedoms did not come free, however; they were paid for by brave men and women who gave their lives so that we can enjoy these freedoms. Even now, with all of the turmoil in this country, we are still free to express our opinions openly, no matter how derogatory they are to our leaders.
In 1776 a group of patriots laid the groundwork for this freedom, and it has been paid for in blood ever since then. So this Independence Day, take a moment to stop and thank Vietnam led to the those who have loss of not only the served; the ones nation’s innocence who will willing to but also the loss of 60,000 young lives, many of give all for their country, and the whom were drafted into the ser- ones who made the ultimate sacvice in an unsuccessful effort to rifice. Without them there would keep South Vietnam free. And of be no parades, no cook-outs, no course we all are aware of the firework shows; only submission “War on Terror”, which includes and fear. So thank a vet for his Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Op- or her service this 4th!!! Happy eration Enduring Freedom, and Independence Day!!! other campaigns in Iraq, Kuwait,