Beloved Declaration of Independence reading returns to Merrick

The Historical Society of the Merricks hosted its annual Declaration of Independence reading at the Old Merrick Library last week. The event took a short hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the beloved and well-known community event returned to Merrick on July 4.

The Independence Day celebration was first held in Merrick some 30 years ago, and the declaration used to be read in the Merrick Gazebo, just north of the Long Island Rail Road station.

Over the last year, several renovations have taken place outside the Old Merrick Library, which is on the corner of Merrick and Kirkwood Avenues, and made it the perfect spot for this year’s reading. The World War I Memorial was restored last year by an Eagle Scout and the Jewish War Veterans, and recently, a historic flag pole was renovated and adorned with a new flag.

The reading encourages and allows the community to get involved. Everyone who attends is given a free copy of the text, and can read a single line out loud during the event.

The Historical Society is now under the leadership of John Pinto, who was installed as its president last fall. The group is working on several initiatives, including preserving the Bedell Dairy Farm property in North Merrick.

For more on the Historical Society, and to learn about future events, visits the group’s Facebook Page, @MerrickHistory.