Let Freedom Ring® 2026 – Happy 250th America!
A Semiquincentennial Celebration of our Declaration of Independence
July 4th, 2026, marked a generational celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. In anticipation of the massive crowds and heightened security, and the limitations on event and parade permits in Center City Philadelphia, the decision was made early and definitively to relocate this year’s Let Freedom Ring celebration event to Valley Forge and the friendly campus of Washington Memorial Chapel (WMC). Despite the record-breaking heat and record-breaking crowd sizes throughout the region, we were able to gather and share in a truly memorable celebration of that day, 250 years ago, when the 13 Colonies came together to formally declare their independence from Great Britain.
Our plan was to host a glorious ceremony in the natural cathedral of the West Lawn of the Chapel, but the 100+ degree heat forced us to pivot once again and bring the entire event indoors. The morning began with a delightful brunch in the newly renovated Patriot’s Hall adjacent to Washington Memorial Chapel, with members and guests invited to sign their own name to our copy of The Declaration of Independence. Following the brunch and after a quick rearrangement of Patriots Hall, the ceremony began with the patriotic fanfare that The Orpheus Club of Philadelphia brings to every 4th July. The gathered crowds were spread throughout the entire campus of WMC, including standing-room only in Patriots Hall, a packed full Chapel, and even more guests and members of the public scattered throughout the Bishop White Library, the Cloisters and the courtyard tent, enjoying the sounds of the ceremony from A/V speakers scattered throughout.
The program (CLICK HERE to view the program) began with Society President C. Michael Whelan welcoming the Presentation of Colors by Captain Robert J. McNelly Esq. and the Color Guard, and after the Colors were stacked, Society Chaplain Fr. Tommy A. Thompson (also the Rector of WMC), offered some welcome remarks and the Invocation. The main program then proceeded with remarks from our Society Historian Dr. Edwin S. Hart, III, talking about the importance of this date and this celebration. Dr. Hart then introduced Washington Memorial Chapel’s Historian Gardiner P. Pearson, who shared with us the spiritual and geographical relevance of celebrating this day at this location, harnessing the spirit of America.
After another patriotic musical interlude by Orpheus, Matthew L. Forester, our Chairman of the PSSR/250 Committee introduced the keynote speaker, celebrated historian and author Christopher Coehlo, who spoke about the role that local Philadelphia businessman and Scribe of the Continental Congress Timothy Matlack played in the drafting of the actual original copies of the Declaration that we all see in our mind’s eye. Following this, and after another musical number by Orpheus, Matthew Forester introduced the stars of the show, the young descendants of Timothy Matlack, who were on hand to lead us in the auspicious reading of the Declaration of Independence. Together with James Earl Jones (a wonderful recording he made for the PSSR about 40 years ago), the young readers lead the gathered audience in a powerful and definitive recollection of the words drafted by our Founding Fathers and ancestors in the Second Continental Congress. This profound reading brought us right up to the grand finale of the event, the Let Freedom Ring bellringing at 2:00 PM (EST).
At this exact same time, at our official Liberty Bell-tapping ceremony at the Liberty Bell Pavilion at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Society President Emeritus Richard F. Pagano, flanked by members of our Society Color Guard and members of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, was leading the 2:00 PM annual Liberty Bell-tapping ceremony. Twelve young Descendants of Signers of the Declaration of Independence, donned their white gloves and gently tapped the Liberty Bell 13 times as the Centennial Bell tolled 13 times from the bell tower at Independence Hall, in recognition of our 13 original Colonies. Every year this ceremony leads the national bell-ringing proclamation around the country and around the world. Meanwhile, back at Washington Memorial Chapel, at exactly 2:00 PM, our own Owen W. L. Truscott, one of our newest and youngest Society members, under the watchful eye of Chapel Carillonneur Doug Gefvert, wrang the bell 13 times from atop the bell tower at Washington Memorial Chapel.
The record number of attendees, including our Society members, their families and guests, and welcome members of The State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, all enjoyed the memorable and convivial nature of this generational celebration. We thank all of those who traveled in from far and wide – Colorado, California, Switzerland, England and Argentina, just to name a few – your attendance was so very much appreciated and made this the signature event we will all cherish until the next “Grand” celebration 50 years from now. Until then, we look forward to returning to our “regular scheduled programming” next year, and we hope to see all of you again.
Click these links to see the Event Program or the “signed” Declaration of Independence.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY
Click these links to see the Event Program or the “signed” Declaration of Independence.