Neighbor News
Community Invited to "Sign the Declaration" at America 250 Celebrations
What would it have felt like to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776?
The Acalanes Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), is inviting the community to experience that moment by signing a giant reproduction of the Declaration of Independence during two local America 250 celebrations.
The public is invited to add their signatures to the document, receive a complimentary pocket-sized copy of the Declaration of Independence, and learn more about the extraordinary events of 1776.
The first opportunity will be Thursday, July 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Lafayette Library and Learning Centerduring Lafayette's America 250 celebration. Visitors can also take photos with life-size figures of George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette before enjoying the evening's presentation and screening of Lafayette: The Lost Hero.
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The activity continues on Saturday, July 4, at Orinda's Fourth of July Celebration, 8:30 am - noonish. In addition to signing the Declaration, visitors can stop by the DAR Welcome Table to learn about Revolutionary War patriots, explore family history resources, and discover how they may be connected to someone who supported the cause of American independence.
"The Declaration of Independence wasn't simply a document signed by 56 men," said Acalanes Chapter Regent Terry Lucido. "Its ideals inspired thousands of ordinary Americans who risked everything to create a new nation. By inviting community members to sign a reproduction today, we hope to encourage reflection on the courage, sacrifice, and enduring principles that continue to unite us nearly 250 years later."
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The events are free and open to all ages.
As part of its America 250 programming, the Acalanes Chapter is also sponsoring a free public presentation by historian Emily Sneff, author of When the Declaration of Independence Was News, on Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Sneff will explore how news of independence spread throughout the colonies in 1776 and why the Declaration became one of the most influential documents in history.
For more information and to reserve free tickets for the August 6 program, visit:
eventbrite.com/e/author-event-when-the-declaration-of-independence-was-news-by-emily-sneff-tickets-1988023389474?aff=oddtdtcreator
