Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he

My friends, it has been another year passed since I last blogged here and has been quite a year so far and not much has changed, with the troops still overseas and a recessed economy along with a whole slew of ecological disasters. I have finally drawn the conclusion that I must become more pro active in helping to do my part so in an attempt to be more involved as "part of the solution", I will only be composing and uploading music that is promoting the awareness of world peace and the protection of our eco-system. The only hope for humanity may be for all to join together and put all that has happened aside just long enough to just clean up the wars overseas as well as this oil spill mess off the Louisiana Coast, and to also make sure that all have food clothing and shelter, then we can really start to take advantage of what new technologies can do to make life more enjoyable instead of just being used for military might and cleaning up the nightmarish messes we make out of the environment. Have a safe and happy fourth of July but let us not forget in our celebrating, those of our servicemen and women who are still overseas left to bear the burden of sacrifice to clean up a mess far away from peace, and let us continue to pray for their safe return home and a swift end to this madness.

I can't believe it's that time again. Break out the BBQ grill's and the ice chest's and all of the fixin's and get to your favorite spot to enjoy the holiday, but all the while remembering all of those who gave their lives for freedom so that we could have the best chance for a good life here in America, not always perfect but good. Have a blast this weekend but remember to observe safety first and respect the rights of other families that will be traveling out there too and please don't forget the sunscreen.

Hello to all of my friends here at Soundclick, there are so many of you that posses so many talents and gifts that the whole world should know of and this is the perfect place to showcase these abilities. I am sorry I will not be able to visit each and every one of you personally because I have such a limited amount of time to devote to music at the moment, I have several medical emergencies that have hit really close to home in the last few months and my time has been diverted elsewhere, but I want all of you to know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers during these days and I shall never forget any of you for as long as I am here in this place. I would like to take this moment to wish each and every one of you the Season's very best and a wonderful New Year filled with all sorts of music and new possibilities and please remember to always take care of your health for without it, none of these great things that you do would be possible. Kindest regards Leonard & New Jazz Movement

Just wanted to wish all who may be passing through, a safe a sane Fourth of July Celebration. This just so happens to be my birthday, and I plan on takin' it easy. Let us all take a moment to keep are friends and family who are stationed overseas, in our hearts and prayers while we celebrate our independence this fourth of July.