A long list of heroes in the Revolution

Dear Editor,

243 years have passed since the Declaration of Independence was signed.

50 members of the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and declared our independence from Great Britain.

Problems began in 1765 after the French Indian War when the English Parliament realized that their treasury was nearly empty, due to the costs of that war.

Their solution was to pass the Townsend Act.

They collected taxes from the American Colonies on glass, paper, lead and team. Samuel Adams, cousin to John Adams, our second president, gave fiery speeches about taxation without representation and helped to organize the Sons of Liberty.

The Sons of Liberty boarded British ships disguised as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 cases of British tea into Boston Harbor.

John Adams said that an equal number of English carcasses could have been dumped into the harbor.

American ships in New England flew flags with read and white stripes and a snake with letters saying "DON'T TREAD ON ME."

John Hancock, an owner of some merchant ships, was president of the Continental Congress. He signed his name first in large clear letters so King George III would have no problems reading it.

Ben Franklin, another Patriot was a talented writer and inventor. One of his inventions was bifocals. People joked that King George III would not have to wear bifocals to see the signature of John Hancock.

John Hancock sailed one of his ships to Spain to obtain wine for American colonists, alone with other supplies that the British controlled. He flew a flag with a coiled snake and "Don't Tread On Me" written on it.

In 1773 England passed the Tea Act after repealing Townsend Act. The Quartered Act was passed in 1765, requiring American colonists to provide quarters, fuel, candles, cider, beer and transportation for British soldiers sent to the colonies.

Americans refused to buy British goods. Paul Revere and William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott left for Concord, Mass. Revere warned John Hancock and John Adams that the British were coming. A British cavalry patrol surprised them. Dawes and Prescott escaped, but Revere was captured. Later the let him go.

Revere returned to Lexington to rescue valuable papers in the trunk left by John Hancock.

When the British arrived in Lexington Minute Men were waiting for them.

The list of heroes was a long one.

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Neb.