Thursday, October 1, 2026
Residents, elected officials and community leaders gathered outside Village Hall in Freeport on July 8 for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Readers took turns quoting the nation’s founding document in a ceremony that celebrated not only American history but also the Village of Freeport in front of dozens of residents.
Hosted by the Freeport Historical Society, the event marked the exact date in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was first read publicly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Last week, in Freeport, about 30 participants took turns reading parts of the historic document, including Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé, Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, Deputy Mayor Jorge Martinez and other members of the Village Board of Trustees, members of the Freeport police and fire departments, the Freeport Memorial Library staff and leaders from the Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP.
The ceremony was held on the steps of Village Hall, a fitting location, according to Ellen Kelly, president of the Freeport Historical Society.
“When this building was designed and opened almost 100 years ago, in 1928, it was modeled after Independence Hall,” Kelly said. “It was meant to be not an exact replica, but as close as possible to the one that exists today in Philadelphia.”
Kelly said the historical society wanted the event to be more than a history lesson. By inviting representatives from across the community to participate, Kelly hoped the reading would reflect the people who make up Freeport today.
“What we were seeking to do, as a society, was to bring the whole community together,” she explained. “That meant young and old, men and women and elected officials and leaders. We just wanted it to represent all of Freeport.”
Kelly added that the Declaration of Independence continues to resonate with Americans centuries after it was written.
“There are things that are happening in the world and in the country that have not changed in 250 years,” Kelly said. “It is always important to remember our history, celebrate it and to deal with it as honestly as we can.”
Deputy Mayor Martinez said the event highlighted both the nation’s founding values and the diverse backgrounds of the people who live in Freeport.
“This is one of the most important documents in the history of the world, and Freeport is such a special place,” Martinez said. “We’re probably one of the most diverse communities in the country. To be able to stand here and read that document 250 years later still means something.”
Martinez, who came to the United States with his family from Cuba nearly 58 years ago, explained how the ceremony had personal significance.
“You have people like myself, who are immigrants to this country, and people like Debra Mulé, whose family came on the Mayflower,” he said. “What a great combination it is.”
Martinez also said he hopes younger generations recognize the opportunities the country has in store for them.
“My family came to this country almost 58 years ago, literally with nothing,” Martinez recalled. “Now, years later, I’m the deputy mayor. It’s extremely important that not only this generation, but multiple generations, understand the importance of what those men did 250 years ago.”
Among the youth participants was Jared Bermudez, president of the Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP Youth Council, who said he was proud to represent younger residents during the reading.
“I take great pride in it,” he said. “I do think more youth should be up here because there has to be someone to continue the traditions the village will hold. The younger generation has to be part of it.”
Christine Waters, second vice president of the Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP and a trustee of the Freeport Historical Society, said the reading serves as an important reminder of the nation’s core principles.
“It’s absolutely one of the things all people should read so we know what times we’re in now and know what we’re standing for,” Waters said.
As voices from across Freeport read the document aloud, the ceremony united residents in honoring the nation’s history 250 years later.
