On July 2, 1776 the US Congress voted for Independence from England. It wasn’t, however, until two days later that Washington read aloud the Declaration of Independence that we celebrate this week.

As great as that document was and is the real sacrifice came in the blood and lives of the men who signed it and those who fought and died to make it happen.

I read that five percent – 1 in 20 – of every white, free males living in America died in the War of Independence. Twice that number were wounded so statistically 1 out of every 6.4 American families either lost their Husband/Father or he came home wounded and maimed. This number does not include slaves and other persons of color – which would only raise the total dead and wounded.

In addition to the wounded, maimed and dead directly related to the war there was approximately the same total number of men, women and children that died during that period due to disease.

If you think things are tough today – imagine how the populace must have felt during the Revolutionary War Period with approximately one third – 1 out of every three households either lost a family member due to death and or lived with their physical wounds and disabilities.

Those were some indescribably tough times and each and every American living today owes that generation of Original Americans a debt of gratitude we can never repay.