NOT SUNSHINE PATRIOTS:: True Courage in the American Revolution

Thomas Paine warned about "sunshine patriots" people who support a cause only when it's easy. This book is about the ones who didn't quit.
Not Sunshine Patriots tells the true story of seven American families who fought in the Revolutionary War. These were ordinary people, farmers, craftsmen, and tradesmen, who left their homes and families behind to fight for independence against the most powerful military in the world at the time.
The families covered in this book are the Helm, Terry, Gosney, Buford, Swain, Hawkins, and Merrell lines. They endured brutal winters at Valley Forge, fought in multiple battles, and marched hundreds of miles on foot. Some were wounded. Some never came home. All of them gave more than most Americans ever knew.
Author Terry Allen Helm is a certified genealogist and direct descendant of these families. He spent years researching birth records, land deeds, military records, and family diaries to bring their stories to life. This is not a textbook, it reads like a story, because it is one.
The book was formally acknowledged by the White House through official presidential correspondence. Published in 2026, the 250th anniversary year of American Independence.
If you love American history, family stories, or books that make the past feel personal, this one is for you.