Honoring America’s Veterans

On Veterans Day, November 11th, we honor American patriots who have served our nation in the military. Did you know that several of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were veterans? See what you know about some of these earliest American heroes!

1. Which signer of the Declaration, formerly an officer in the New Jersey militia, was forced to move his family several times while serving as president of Delaware?
2. Name the Declaration signer that led troops as a Brigadier General in the Battle of Saratoga.
3. Which physician signer of the Declaration served in New Hampshire’s militia?
4. Name the signer of the Declaration that was captured in the siege of Savannah while serving in Georgia’s militia.
5. Which Declaration signer served as Major General in Delaware’s militia as well as president of that state?
6. Name the three signers of the Declaration who were captured during the Siege of Charleston while serving with the South Carolina militia.
7. Which signer of the Declaration served in the Connecticut colonial militia during King George’s War and later became General during the War for Independence?
8. Name the Declaration signer that served as General of the Virginia militia and partially paid for the formation of a troop of light cavalry.

Throughout our history, millions of Americans have chosen to serve their fellow citizens by entering the US military where they willingly gave their time and talents to protect our freedoms. Make Veterans Day special by thanking a veteran for their service, and consider visiting veterans at a local nursing home (where many have been abandoned or have no family remaining). And, of course, remember to pray for our military members and their families!

How did you do? Check your answers here!

1. Thomas McKean. McKean served as a captain in the New Jersey militia before the War for Independence. In 1777 he became temporary president (governor) of Delaware and was hunted by the British throughout his short tenure.
2. William Whipple. Throughout his time in Congress, he served in his state’s militia, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. In this capacity, Whipple was involved in the fighting at Saratoga against Gen. John Burgoyne.
3. Matthew Thornton. He served as surgeon to the New Hampshire militia during the 1745 Siege of Louisbourg.
4. George Walton. During the capture of Savannah in late 1778, Walton was wounded. He was then held prisoner by the British for nearly a year.
5. Caesar Rodney. Rodney served in his state’s militia for several years at the beginning of the War for Independence and was also president of Delaware from 1778-1780.
6. Arthur Middleton; Thomas Heyward, Jr.; and Edward Rutledge. These three South Carolina signers were each captured while defending their state during the Siege of Charleston (March-May 1780) and were held by the British for over a year.
7. Oliver Wolcott. During King George’s War (part of the 1740-1748 conflict known as the War of Austrian Succession), Wolcott raised a volunteer militia. He returned to the New York militia in 1771 and continued his military service throughout the War.
8. Thomas Nelson, Jr. Nelson served in the militia of Virginia through much of the War for Independence. In 1778, he helped pay for and led a troop of light cavalry which was sent back by Congress after only a month.