Community members in Christian County have the opportunity to participate in a group reading of the United States’ Declaration of Independence.  It’s set to take place on Wednesday, July 8 at 5 p.m. in front of the Christian County Courthouse.  That day marks 250 years and four days after the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration in Philadelphia.  Amy Hagen, a Taylorville alderwoman who has helped organize this gathering, says attendees will be invited to read the document out loud along with the speaker who has the microphone. 

Attendees will be provided a copy of the document to read from. 

The reading of the Declaration of Independence in Taylorville is part of a national initiative.  It will take place in towns and cities across the United States – and even some locations abroad – as part of celebrations of the country’s 250 years of independence.  All the readings are scheduled for the same time, which in the central time zone is 5 p.m.

The date of the reading, July 8, is meant to correspond with when the public first learned about the ratification, due to the lack of technology at that time.

Hagen says the reading of the Declaration in Taylorville was made possible in part by a resolution adopted within the city to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence. 

More information is available at www.hawaiiamerica250.org, as Hawai’i’s America 250 chapter conceived the idea of this event.

Amy Hagen appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.