A large crowd gathered across blankets and lawn chairs at the Connie Link Amphitheatre in Normal on Wednesday for live music and community patriotism.
The General Joseph Bartholomew Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution hosted Sharing the Spirit of America, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence to mark America 250.
Community leaders, students, veterans, Scouts, clergy, educators and others from across Central Illinois participated in the reading, followed by a free patriotic concert by the Bloomington-Normal Community Concert Band.
Organizer Dale Simpson, chairman of the 250th Celebration Committee, said the evening is part of a larger nationwide event that originated in Hawaii. After the Hawaii Sons of the American Revolution chapter reached out to several other groups, the rest of the U.S. was quick to join in on the live readings.
"Over the last two weeks, I've been watching the signups on their website, 500, 600, 700," Simpson said. "Yesterday, it was 850."
America isn't the only country offering live readings. Simpson said South Korea, London, Rome and Brazil are among many other locations reading the declaration, all at the same time.
"Guess where else?" Simpson said. "Go to Antarctica."
Sure enough, those in Camp McMurtry in Antarctica, too, read the declaration on July 8 in sub-zero weather.
"It was such an important day, but that's when the declaration was approved. People didn't really hear it or see it until Monday the 8th," Simpson said.
Speaking to the crowd before the reading began, Simpson put the scale of the project in perspective: An interactive map on the national event's website showed more than 1,150 locations taking part, spanning every state and territory, 40 sites outside the United States and all seven continents.
"I think it's a reminder of the foundation of our country and some of the issues that the founders dealt with, some of which overlap today in today's world," said Normal Mayor Chris Koos. "250 years, that's worth celebrating."
Koos also welcomed the crowd from the amphitheater stage, noting that while the Declaration was adopted July 4, 1776, its first public reading didn't come until four days later, when Col. John Nixon read it aloud from the steps of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia.
"We're kind of in that world today in the sense everybody doesn't agree, but we have robust conversations," Koos told the crowd. "We respect each other, and that's the foundation of our country, and that's where we are today."
Patriotic citizens across the lawn wore American flag hats, shirts, and one man even wore a classic Revolutionary War suit.
Terry Willis has been a member of Sons of the Revolution for just under three years, as a sergeant at arms. He was decorated head to toe in an authentic uniform.
To Willis, the Declaration means "good men not putting up with the B.S. of the time. Strong men, dedicated men."
Brenda Weir sat a few chairs away from him. To her, the declaration means freedom.
"I wanted to help celebrate the 250 years of America," Weir said. "And to celebrate that, knowing that it happened 250 years ago today, which I just learned."
Echoing those same words, Rick Peek sat across the field from Weir. When asked what the declaration meant to him: "Freedom, that's in one word is freedom," Peek said.
Peek, like many attendees, said it's important to hold events like these for those who haven't fully heard the Declaration of Independence, or who may have missed the history lesson in school.
"I think this is an opportunity for people who haven't heard it to have it read and listen to it," Peek said. "I imagine most people who are here have not heard the Declaration of Independence."
As the sun reflected across the stage Wednesday, 50 American flags decorated the lawn — 20 lining a newly planted Liberty Tree dedicated at the amphitheater last fall, with the rest arranged along the grounds.
They were placed with the help of scoutmasters Phil Hamm and Chris Knoll.
Both scouts had ancestral ties leading to the Revolutionary War.
"I have family history that traces back to signing of the Declaration of Independence," Hamm said. "To hear it now again 250 years later is really kind of neat, something that my ancestors had a part of."
With 10 years serving the Scouts, Knoll was one of many who were glad to step up at the event.
"This is important because liberty, freedom is the foundation of our country and expressed so well in the Declaration of Independence," Knoll said.
Members of Scout Troop 920 opened the ceremony by presenting and posting the colors, and were credited with placing the flags.
Before the reading began, Simpson read the names of 23 local residents chosen to take turns reading the Declaration aloud — among them was the Rev. Ray Owens, the chapter's chaplain. Simpson said the group was reading "in union" with communities across the country repeating Nixon's words 250 years to the day after he first spoke them publicly.
The Bloomington-Normal Community Concert Band performed a set of patriotic music, opening with the national anthem and following it with an Armed Forces medley, during which veterans in the crowd stood as their service's song played.
Simpson, introducing the closing numbers, told the crowd the set list included Sousa's Semper Fidelis and Stars and Stripes Forever.
Owens closed the program with a moment of silence for those who have served in the military or through public service, followed by a benediction.
