Ted Poe: “as we are approaching the 4th of July, it was 230 years ago, this signing of the Declaration of Independence. But it…”

“as we are approaching the 4th of July, it was 230 years ago, this signing of the Declaration of Independence. But it wasn't until after the War of 1812 this holiday became more meaningful to Americans. It was after our young Nation had to whip the British a second time and yet again fight for our Nation's freedom. That is when Americans recognized why we should remain and remember our Nation, our struggle, and all we stand for. On the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, the author of the document, was asked to speak at a celebration about it. He was lying on his deathbed, so he answered the call with this note: May it, the Declaration of Independence, be to the world, what I believe it will be. The signal of arousing men to burst the chains and assume the blessings and security of self-government. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these basic rights, and an undiminished devotion to all of them. Mr. Speaker, today I present to you a portrait of the devotion of a person to that Declaration of Independence. His name was Staff Sergeant Benjamin DeWayne Williams, United States Marine. I have here a photograph of him in his combat attire in Iraq. This was the way he looked shortly before he was killed. He was a true patriot. He was from Orange, Texas, and on his third and last deployment. He was set to return home on August 15. He had plans to surprise his mother.…”