Hours before the skies were filled with barbeque smoke and fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday, community members gathered at the Old Merrick Library that afternoon for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The Historical Society of the Merricks hosted the event, which featured the traditional oral recitation of the historical 1776 document.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Historical Society of the Merricks president John Pinto, former Merrick Community Civic Association president Joe Baker, war veteran Gary Glick of Post 652, Merrick civic association president Berta Weinstein and her husband Joe, 5th District Council Member Chris Schneider, Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Assemblyman Dave McDonough and County Legislator Michael Giangregorio,
They all took turns reading from the Declaration, which was, in fact, signed on July 2, 1776, and read to the colonists on July 4. The document marked a landmark in world history –– America’s declaration of independence from Great Britain, the 18th century’s most powerful colonial power.
