The Kootenai County Task Ahead: The Patriots’ Challenge

By Bob Shillingstad

As we celebrate the 4th of July and thank God for His hand upon our country and the freedom that we enjoy we need to remind ourselves of the sacrifices made by those first patriots.

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; the rest were writers and clergymen…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 lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

It is good to remind ourselves of the pledge they took to each other and the odds that were against them.  We are facing elections this November of 2023 and of 2024 that arguably are the most important elections in our country’s history.  We have seen events come about and policies promulgated that seem insane.  There are attacks on the family unit, our morals, education, health care and most importantly our children.  “Pride” events that include naked men and women in parades, mentally ill men masquerading as women and simulating sexual acts.  Marchers in New York chanting, “We’re here, we’re queer, and we are coming for your children.”  It is not all taking place in places far away.  In Kellogg, Idaho a high school student is prohibited from graduation exercises because he said, “a boy is a boy, and a girl is a girl.”  As we go deeper into the rabbit hole of cultural and moral insanity that kind of statement is “disruptive.”

Fortunately, we have online sources and local organizations to communicate truth and civility and stand up with courage and conviction.  The mainstream media, even the local press is on the attack on the family and our values.  They don’t talk about issues it is always name calling and accusation.  The West Bonner School District has had serious issues of declining scores, possible financial mismanagement and when they hired someone outside the education establishment the attacks began.

In an editorial recently in the local paper we are told that candidates are being recruited with “their dangerous ideology” (that would be the majority of the citizenry).  They are “far-right,” they are “politically motivated robots” at the helm!  They have actively recruited candidates who are not qualified to serve. Now, they are reminding us that these are “non-partisan” elections coming up.  Don’t you understand? We who are smarter than the “unwashed masses” will decide which “non-partisans” are competent to run and be elected.   They have declared war on the voters.  Now is the time to stop the madness and vote for patriots that have a world view that represents sanity.

Declaring to run for office is September 8th for the November 7th ballot.  This will elect city councils and school district trustees.  The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee has set up a logical way to vet candidates. The more than 100 precinct chairmen that are elected in our neighborhoods meet and question the candidates and then endorse.  Contrary to the propaganda and falsehoods propagated, no one person decides on who should be endorsed – it will be the one that supports traditional values.

Let us remember the signers of the Declaration. Have convictions and courage! We must speak up and end this insanity.