Saratoga National Historical Park and the Saratoga County 250th Commission are co-hosting a community reading of the Declaration of Independence on Sunday, July 19, 2026, 2:00 pm on the lawn of the park's visitor center, Stillwater, NY (648 Route 32, Stillwater, NY).

Following the signing of the Declaration, the news traveled north to New York and historical documents show the Declaration was published and read publicly in Albany County (which included Saratoga County) on July 19,1776 as directed by the Albany Committee of Correspondence.

We would like to invite a representative from the SAR to join us for a commemoration to mark the 250th Anniversary of this occasion by participating in the community reading of the Declaration of Independence. The event will include presentations on the Declaration, its signing, and how word traveled throughout the colonies and New York State, a short musical performance, followed by the community reading.

We are looking for 20-30 readers to participate in the reading. Each reader will be given a few lines to read aloud. If you will be representing an organization, we encourage you to wear something that identifies that organization and feel free to bring materials about your organization. We ask all readers to arrive by 1:30 pm to receive your assigned reading section and attend a run-through briefing.

Please RSVP to garrett_cloer@nps.gov by July 1, 2026, if you are interested in participating.

We are looking forward to having your group as a part of the ceremony with firing demonstrations, but we also wanted to extend the invitation for to have participate as a reader as well.

Thank you,

Leslie

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Leslie Morlock
Superintendent
Saratoga National Historical Park
(518) 670-2940
(518) 538-0031 (cell)
leslie_morlock@nps.gov