The annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Warren County Courthouse lawn is more than a tradition; it is a resonant, auditory experience. On July 5, 2025, the air was thick with the document’s history as the Colonel James Wood II Chapter brought the words of 1776 to life once again.
The most striking part of the ceremony is the reading of the 27 grievances against King George III. As we reached this section, Barry Schwoerer stood ready at the bell. With every charge read aloud, the bell’s sharp, clear toll echoed across Main Street, punctuating the weight of the King’s “repeated injuries and usurpations.”
I had the distinct honor of stepping to the podium to read a critical section of those grievances. As the bell rang, I projected my voice to the gathered crowd:
“He has erected a multitude of new offices and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us in times of peace standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws… for quartering large bodies of armed troops among us.”
As I read those words, I thought about the sheer courage it took for our ancestors to state these facts publicly. These weren’t just complaints; they were an announcement that the people would no longer be subjects to a power that did not respect their consent. For me, reading the part about “swarms of officers” and “standing armies” was a reminder of why the civilian-led government we enjoy today is such a precious, hard-won gift.
Following my section, the reading continued until the final, stirring conclusion, in which the signers pledged their “Sacred Honor.” The morning ended with a community rendition of “God Bless America” and a closing prayer by Reverend Jim Simmons.
Walking away from the courthouse, I felt a renewed sense of connection to the “Liberty Man” spirit. It is one thing to study history in the lodge or at a chapter meeting; it is quite another to stand in the public square and declare it to the world.
Local Media
The Royal Examiner posted an article titled “A Patriotic Tradition Lives On: Sons of the American Revolution Lead Declaration of Independence Reading on Courthouse Lawn” and a video of the ceremony, in which I speak around the 10-minute mark.
