The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday morning hosted a roughly hour-long event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America.
During the event, which packed the commissioners' hearing room and included live music and special speakers, the commissioners officially dedicated replica copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
The ceremony was held ahead of the board’s regular business meeting.
The documents were purchased from the U.S. National Archives by the Lewis County commissioners — Sean Swope, Lindsey Pollock and Scott Brummer — in their private capacity and have been donated to the local government for display.
They are expected to be displayed on the first floor of the Lewis County Courthouse.
In closing the ceremony, Pollock read aloud the resolution officially dedicating the documents.
“This dedication serves as a reaffirmation of Lewis County's commitment to the constitutional principles of liberty, justice, equality under the law and representative government upon which the United States was founded,” she recited.
The event began with the presenting of the colors by members of Lewis County Civil Air Patrol Color Guard, which also retired the colors. After the flags were presented, the room heard “The Star-Spangled Banner” and a version of “God Bless America” performed by a group of young fiddlers.
Brummer recited a brief history of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence. Young Dodge Voetberg, dressed as George Washington, recited the entirety of the Declaration of Independence to the audience.
The event also welcomed many local historians to share their lineage and connections to ancestors who were present during the American Revolution.
The event hosted a long list of former Lewis County commissioners, including Edna Gorter-Fund, Ron Averill, Lee Grose, the county’s first female commissioner, Joanne Schwartz, and others.
“It is the fact that each of us as individuals can make a contribution to the greatness of this land and to help our fellow citizens achieve their objectives,” Averill said. “I’ve been fortunate to have a part in that, and I’m graced by it.”
