Patriots and historians of America’s founding will gather in Anchorage on July 4th for the 26th annual public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The traditional event will take place 1-2 p.m. at Liberty Stage on the Delaney Park Strip (between E & I Street).

“The Fourth of July is America’s birthday – the anniversary of our independence in 1776,” a notice for the event states. “The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is the first organic law of the United States of America in our federal code, and America’s most revered public document.”

Piper Major Ian White of the Crow Creek Pipes and Drums will open the event. David Braun of Anchorage Opera will present a program of songs, including “Fair Harvard,” the Star-Spangled Banner, “Alaska’s Flag,” and God Bless America, accompanied by pianist Debbie Pankow of Central Lutheran Church.

Attendees are encouraged to print out the songs ahead of time and sing along. The words to the songs on the program include the original line in Irving Berlin’s God Bless America, “to the gold fields out in Nome!”

Alaska Senator Josh Revak, Iraq combat veteran, will read the Declaration this year. The ceremony will end with the traditional ringing of a bell 246 times, once for each year of American independence, by 13 volunteers from the audience, one for each state delegation of signatories. 

Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science Forrest Nabors of the University of Alaska Anchorage will offer remarks.

This 26th annual commemoration of Independence Day is sponsored by the Harvard Club of Alaska, with help from the Municipality of Anchorage and Huycke Entertainment.

For more information, email the Master of Ceremonies, Forrest Nabors, at fanabors@alaska.edu.

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