The Mystery Man of Independence Hall

We’ve all heard the story of the 56 delegates who came together to Philadelphia on July 4^th, 1776, to declare our Nation’s freedom.

But did you know there was another man there that day? a ‘Mystery Man’ that to this day, who he was, where he was from, even his name, remains a mystery.

President Ronald Reagan spoke about this unknown stranger in a speech given on July 3, 1981, and this is what he said:

“As the debate raged on for hours, the issue of Independence remained in doubt. These were honorable men. Still, to sign a Declaration of Independence seemed such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with cries of ‘treason’”.

Then it is said that one unknown man rose to speak. He was neither young nor strong of voice; yet he spoke with such conviction that he mesmerized the hall. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment. His voice failing, he said:

“They may turn every tree into gallows, every hole into a grave, yet the words of this parchment must never die – to the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope – to the slaves in the mine…freedom.

Sign that parchment. Sign even if in the next moment a noose is placed around your neck. For this Declaration of Independence will be the Textbook of Freedom, the Bible of the Rights of Man Forever’ “.

It is said that after that powerful speech, the delegates were so inspired that they no longer delayed, and each stepped forward to sign that Declaration of Independence.

Later, when they wanted to congratulate the stranger for his powerful speech, he was mysteriously gone, and no one ever found out who this man was.

Was he an angel? sent from God? We’ll never know.

But we do know this – for our Nation to survive today each of us must step forward, stand up for what we know to be good and right – and to pledge our own lives and sacred honor.

I am a story teller. Since 1998, I have been telling the true stories of our nation and those Americans gone before us.  To say the least, these stories have been well received by Americans, both young and old.  So, here’s where the stories have taken me.  In 1998, I was broadcasting my stories on just one radio station in Washington State.  Today, from Texas 15 years later, these programs are now broadcast through a syndicated radio network to over 400 radio stations all across America, with literally millions of listeners.