All Alaskans are invited to join patriots and historians of America’s founding for the 27th annual public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Anchorage. The traditional event will take place 1-2 p.m. on July 4 at Liberty Stage on the Delaney Park Strip (between E & I Street and 9th and 10th Avenues, just across from the Veterans’ Memorial Flagpole, in downtown Anchorage.
“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,” a statement for event notes. “Come early, bring a picnic, relax on the grass, and listen to what the Fourth of July is really all about!”
Dr. James W. Muller, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Political Science at the University of Alaska Anchorage, will read the Declaration.
Piper Major Ian White of the Crow Creek Pipes and Drums will open the event. Kaethe B. Henning of Seattle will present a program of songs, including Fair Harvard, the Star-Spangled Banner, American the Beautiful, and Alaska’s Flag, accompanied by pianist Debbie Pankow of Central Lutheran Church.
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science Forrest Nabors of the University of Alaska Anchorage will offer remarks.
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The ceremony will end with the traditional ringing of a bell two hundred forty-seven times, once for each year of American independence, by 13 volunteers from the audience, one for each state delegation of signatories.
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!”
This 27th 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.
