Addy and Dori, Declaration of Independence

This is me and Dori dressed up as people in the Declaration of Independence time. We listened to the Declaration of Independence. And we sang a few songs about America.

There's an article about it, too.

This was on July 4th.



History remembered in Lapeer on Fourth of July
by Shena Abercrombie
The Flint Journal

Adele B., 5, didn't just watch American history come alive on the lawn of the Historic Courthouse in downtown Lapeer, she got to dress up in it.

Mom Sue B., dressed up Adele and Dori, 2, in period garb to attend the reading of the Declaration of Independence staged by the Heritage Research Institute Friday morning.

"We're homeschoolers and we've been reading about it at home," Sue explained, while loading the girls into a mini-van following the event. "She helped do the sewing on her outfit."

The girls donned near identical ensembles modeled after period pieces she found on historic Web sites -- then fashioned petticoats, bonnets and Colonial-era scarves from old bed sheets and other discarded fabric around the house.

The B.'s drove from [town] to visit the girls' grandparents, and happened to see a notice for the event in the local paper. (Actually we learned about it from a homeschool e-mail group and planned for it a few weeks in advance.) They joined a crowd that filled the courthouse lawn, and included local Boy Scout troops. Ervin said the color guard and Honor Guard from the Flint Central High School Junior Naval ROTC even made the trip to downtown Lapeer for the program.

"I thought it was great," Sue said. "There was something of interest for everyone. The girls got something out of singing patriotic songs and the setting was just wonderful."

It was perfect weather for the roughly 30-minute ceremony, which included an opening and closing prayer, a brief history lesson on the meaning behind the one of the country's most sacred writings, and of course the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Turns out that's exactly how they used to do it in the old days -- in Colonial America.

"Historically, Independence Day was a day of worship that was celebrated with church services and prayer, public parades and fireworks," said Brian Ervin, president of the Heritage Research Institute, a Metamora-based nonprofit organization.

The group formed four years ago to educate citizens about the importance behind such documents, and the founding principles from which this nation and its government evolved.

"That's why we do it at 9 a.m., so people can still do the parades," said Ervin, who was dressed as a colonial officer for his part in the reenactment - the reading of the Declaration of Independence. We know that just reading some of the founding documents is educational. This helps us connect to history."

Rick and Linda Gualdoni of Alba Township try to make the Fourth of July observance an annual event. Self proclaimed history buffs, they took the time to greet Ervin and shake his hand following the reading.

"I think it's accurate as far as the historical perspective is concerned," Linda said. "We came to the very first one."

Rick's favorite portion of the document, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"I like the fact that there is the acknowledgment of a creator in the Declaration of Independence." The HRI will stage another reading of the Declaration of Independence in September on Constitution Day.