Sunday, July 3, 2011

Honoring Independence Day

Now that you have decided which fireworks display and Fourth of July parties you will attend, it's time to schedule the Declaration of Independence into your celebrations.


Honor the origins of Independence Day by attending the annual July 4th public reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Middlebrook Encampment on Middlebrook Road in Bridgewater.

This is the ceremony that can bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye. This marks the moment that the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence put everything on the line.

Attending this commemoration is something that every Central Jersey resident should do at least once.

Why not this year.

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The Middlebrook Encampment is a 20-acre park, 1761 Middlebrook Road, Bridgewater, operated by the Washington Campground Association. The annual ceremony starts around 10:30 a.m. and takes about an hour.

From mycentraljersey.com:
"...The 122nd annual Washington Campground Association flag changing ceremony will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the grounds of the Middlebrook Encampment. This site is conveniently located on Middlebrook Road in Bridgewater, between Mountain and Vosseller Avenues. Featured speaker this year is Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery, with the Declaration Independence to be read by Raritan resident and chairman of the Basilone Parade Committee, John Pacifico.

Street parking is available on site and shuttle service will commence at 9:30 a.m. from the parking lot of the Somerset Savings and Loan, 220 West Union Avenue, Bound Brook. ..."

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Photographs of the 2005 ceremony courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

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