Reading of declaration revives July Fourth tradition

The Washington Times ^ | July 1, 2009 | Melissa Kossler

[re_tail20]

Marylou Chicote, site administrator for a Revolutionary War monument in Vermont, was looking to make the Fourth of July about something more than barbecues and fireworks, so she turned to the piece of paper that started it all -- the Declaration of Independence.

She recruited an actor to dress in Colonial-era clothes and perform a dramatic reading of the document in front of the soaring stone obelisk in Bennington to honor a famous battle there and bring the nation's independence alive.

"It was a hit," Miss Chicote says. "It makes people think about what the day means as opposed to just having a picnic."

The tradition of reading the 1,300-plus word declaration dates to 1776, when it was disseminated around the colonies through public readings in town squares. The practice eventually fell out of favor, but some communities have revived it over the past decade to restore a more patriotic feel to the holiday.

[Blogger]

Whatever we do this year, I think this should be a tradition.

[SpinnerWebb]

I plan to participate in this activity this year.

[KarlInOhio]

This year I'm going to one or two of the Tea parties to protest that Obama "has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance."

[TNCMAXQ]

This is in Vermont? I thought most of the people there didn’t consider themselves part of American anymore. I guess it’s different though now that the far left controls the presidency.

Sadly I am just not feeling very patriotic this Independence Day.

[SpinnerWebb]

I *do* feel patriotic, in a manner I would assume that several well-known beer-drinking buddies were feeling on or around July 1772 or 1773.

It is not a pleasant, celebratory feeling. It is a forboding feeling.

[Mad Dawg]

We’ve read it since my little one was too young to sit still for it.

Of course, now it has nothing to do with our government....

[matandal]

With the exception of the disparaging remarks about VT (I’m sure there are a lot of folks in VT right now counting down to the 2010 and 2012 elections to get this admin out), I have to say I agree with you. With the massive govt. takeover of so much of the private sector and with what appears to be the vast majority of the public simply laying down and, in fact, celebrating this abomination of an administration, I’m beginning to wonder if Franklin’s worst fear is not coming true; that we are losing our Republic. If that comes to pass then, sadly, we may have ultimately been better off (in terms of sheer lives lost, and for what, a return to govt. that is not by and for the people and does not celebrate the individual right to succeed and fail but, instead, pushes govt. social engineering?) remaining under the Crown.