Our Lives, Our Fortunes And Our Sacred Honor

To the Editor:

There are 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Signatures of men who were farmers, lawyers, merchants, businessmen, and doctors. Some names are well known and others lesser known, yet all were extremely brave men who knew by signing their name to that parchment, they were in effect signing their own death warrant. If they were captured by the Red Coats, they would be hanged for the crime of treason.

These men had much more to lose then to gain. They were all well-heeled gentlemen of their time. So why should they stick their necks out (possibly to be stretched)? I believe the reason is found in the last line of the Declaration of Independence where it reads, “We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” These were men who (in today’s vernacular) talked the talk and walked the walk. Principled leaders who were willing to sacrifice everything they held dear for their freedom from tyranny and to give birth to a new and totally revolutionary system of government.

Why discuss the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Founding Fathers? The reason is that once again we Americans are asked to choose a person to lead our nation. It is our right and our responsibility which was given to us 232 years ago by those 56 farmers, lawyers, merchants, and businessmen. They wrote “that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” I will give my consent to be governed by a man that I believe will and has pledged his life, fortune, and sacred honor.

In my opinion that man is Senator John McCain. In 1958 John McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy the “motto” of which is “to instill core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment” (sound familiar?). John McCain has sacrificed more for our country than we could ever imagine. While serving his country in war he was shot down over Vietnam and was imprisoned, tortured, and starved at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. John McCain was offered his freedom prior to his ultimate release, but refused to go. Why? Because other prisoners had been there longer than he had and because he took that pledge of honor that meant a serviceman captured before him was to go free before him. He chose sacred honor over his own life. We should look at the character of the candidate. Look past the sound bites and the spin. Who has the “sacred honor, courage, and commitment” to lead us in these troubled times. Who has before and would again put it all on the line for the sake of his country and countrymen? Who has talked the talk and walked the walk? I hope you will consider voting for a true patriot, John McCain.

M.J. D’Avola

Taunton Ridge Road, Newtown                                   October 8, 2008