by Len Gengel

When I was growing up in the 60s the 4^th of July was our biggest celebration of the year as my Father was a WWII Vet and so were all of his friends.  They were the Greatest Generation, they knew what the world could have been if they didn’t defeat Hitler and Japan.  These guys knew what the word Sacrifice was all about as they were part of the Greatest Generation in our History.  I cherish the memories of a big green trash barrel filled with ice and Black Label Beer, the Clam Bake and Campfire that would follow.  It was the “Wonder Years“ of our lives, we just didn’t know it at the time and that is what Cherylann and I tried to create for our children, without the Barrel full of Beer though!  In 1989 my Dad died suddenly of a heart attack at 65 years old, it was devastating to me and our family, our Dad was gone into eternal life.  We made a commitment at his wake to see our cousins each year instead of at Weddings or Wakes.  In July of 1990 with Britney being 6 months old we held our first cousin party on that 4^th of July at Cool Sandy Beach in Rutland, MA and every 4^th of July thereafter until 2009 which was the summer before the Haiti Earthquake.  For 20 years we celebrated Independence Day with Family, Friends and relatives, how great it was to see all of our cousins and their children grow up and be the next generation of our families.  Britney, Bernie and Richie loved having this party and loved all their cousins, it was part of who they were and are today!

How life has changed for our family since January 12, 2010, no more yearly celebration, no more barrels full of beer, just learning how to survive each day without Britney!  This 4^th of July I worked on finishing our House in Florida, a modest ranch style which will give us a place to stay while traveling in and out of Haiti.  Bernie and I took the 2pm flight out of Fort Lauderdale and landed in PaP at 4:15pm and were at Brit’s Orphanage by 6:15pm.  It was so great to see our children, it’s the longest I have been away from Haiti in 5 years.  On the flight into Haiti I was thinking of all the fun we use to have on the 4^th, the Lake, the Pool, the Ocean and the Lake in NH again, it was just Family celebrating the love of Country and each other.  I reflected on the last 5 years and how our lives will never be the same again, both for the good and the obvious.  Here we are in Haiti with our 66 children and 85 staff members enjoying our rice and beans with a chicken leg for dinner, a little different than our Kayem Hotdogs, Cheeseburgers and my sister Carol’s Macaroni Salad.  I’ve embraced my Haitian Family and my Haitian Home, I just yearn for that Happiness we celebrated for many years of 4^th of July parties with Family, Friends and Relatives!

Summer is a tough time in Haiti as it’s extremely warm, thankfully we always have a breeze up on the mountain where it helps handle the humidity.  Summer Camp has begun at Be Like Brit and our kids are enjoying just being kids, dancing, tumbling, soccer and swimming each day!  We want to thank all of you who have donated to help out with summer activities for our children, it’s truly appreciated!  Next week Jonathan will blog about being back at Be Like Brit, how happy we are to have him back home with his children and friends!  

In closing I would like to share with you a piece of our American History, it was sent to me yesterday by a friend and supporter of BLB.  I believe its message is clear as I hope you take the time to read what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence and the sacrifices they and their families made for our Future.  Happy 4^th of July Weekend everyone from all of us at the Be Like Brit Foundation!!!

Keeping the Faith in Haiti and the USA!!!

Papi Len

Enjoy!

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? I sure have, and here are some of their stories. . . I guess I always thought of them as living easy lives of wealth and privilege... Like with many other things, I was wrong. 

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, but 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 lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.  

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday, and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.  

You’ve heard it said that freedom is not free. That’s not an old saw, its profound wisdom. Some people like Patrick Henry (Give me liberty, or give me death.), believe it’s worth dying over; since life without freedom is servitude, and some will never submit to being slaves. There will always be those how’d rather die standing up, than live on their knees, and we should be forever grateful to those among them who are Americans. There are many more who don’t see it that way, and who probably don’t think of much beyond their own interests… many of those are Americans too. It was Socrates who said that the unexamined life isn’t worth living, and there are surly many unexamined lives. 

Please share with your Family and Friends…