Up the Revolution

The official Blog for New London Declarations, the community event held every Fourth of July in Downtown New London, Connecticut. Not your typical Independence Day event but a gathering of people who simply wish to declare their independence. What will you declare at New London Declarations?

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Proclamation

Proclamation
City of New London

WHEREAS, July 4, 2007 will mark the Fourth Annual New London Declarations, the community festival in Downtown New London that is entirely presented by volunteers and provided at no cost to the City; and WHEREAS, New London Declarations celebrates the ideas and ideals contained in the founding document of our Republic, which we know today as The Declaration of Independence; and WHEREAS, a woman named Mary Katherine Goddard was born in 1738 in or very near the City of New London to Sarah Goddard, wife of Dr. Giles Goddard, who was then and remained for many years the official postmaster of New London; and WHEREAS, this same Mary Katherine Goddard, daughter of New London, at great peril to herself, did in January 1777 by the request of Congress, print the first true copy of the Declaration of Independence that contained the names of all Representatives of the thirteen States of the United States who voted for and signed the document; and WHEREAS, the Goddard printing of The Declaration now resides in the Library of Congress, The National Archives and other repositories bearing the names of the Founding Fathers including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Sam Adams and from the State of Connecticut, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, and Oliver Wolcott, 56 in total, all men; and WHEREAS, this official copy of the Declaration of Independence bears the name of one woman, the same daughter of New London, the printer of the Declaration of Independence, Mary Katherine Goddard; and WHEREAS, her courage and that of all patriots is embodied in the Declaration that celebrates equality, the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and gives no quarter to the oppressions of kings, tyrants and despots; and WHEREAS, it is right and proper for all who seek to bask in the sunshine of freedom, to also celebrate and understand the guiding principles upon which this Republic was founded by hearing and reading The Declaration of Independence. NOW, therefore, we the City Council of the City of New London in the State of Connecticut in the United States of America do proclaim to a candid world the day of July 4, 2007 as New London Declarations Day and call upon all citizens and residents of our City, and those who may be so disposed from all other parts of our Republic, to come hither on this day to join with us in a celebration of these founding principles in words, music, dance, song and other expressions as befits the spirit of a free and independent people. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City to be affixed on this 4th day of June, 2007. (signed) Margaret Mary Curtin MAYOR, THE CITY OF NEW LONDON

posted by Peter Roberts # 2:22 PM

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