After having signed the declaration he is rumored to have said, Gentlemen, we must hang together, or we certainly all shall hang separately. What faith and daring it took for this handful of men to sign this document, defying the most dominant, vindictive, vengeful military power in the world, with not even an army in place.

Ben Franklin passed on the opportunity to be the original author of the Declaration. He claimed he made it 'a habit' of not writing things that people could alter or change. Still an icon worthy of respect, but loses one star for passing on the one-in-a-billion chance to write the document that summarizes such philosophical truths and encapsulates the need for people to be free.

Gotta love Ben Franklin. Great American and local guy. He's an icon on Philadelphia.