This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
Reading The Declaration Of Independence: A Tradition Continues
Several copies of the Declaration of Independence were printed on July 4, 1776, by John Dunlap, printer to the Continental Congress. There are 26 'Dunlap Broadsides' known to exist today.
(
National Archives
)
Listen
8:59
Editor's note on July 8, 2022: The audio of this story quotes the U.S. Declaration of Independence — a document that contains offensive language about Native Americans, including a racial slur.
It was 238 years ago today that church bells rang out over Philadelphia, as the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. That revolutionary document not only formalized the American colonies' united front in the Revolutionary War, it articulated the ideals of human equality and self-determination that still serve as the guiding principles of American government.
Morning Edition continues its Independence Day tradition of reading that document aloud. This year, we asked visitors at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to do the honors. They are, in order of appearance:
Stewart Merriam (Logan, Utah)
Fritz Naumann (Houston,Texas)
Emaan Khan (Austin, Texas)
Mildred Cobbinah (Kansas City, Mo.)
Sponsored message
Jean Hebert (Chippewa Falls, Wis.)
Darwin Danks
Emaan Khan (Austin, Texas)
Mildred Cobbinah (Kansas City, Mo.)
Bill Gentes (Round Lake, Ill.)
Stewart Merriam (Logan, Utah)
Ted Cai (Houston, Texas)
Sponsored message
Maryam Saif (Austin, Texas)
Michael Dubberly (Savannah, Ga.)
Christine Gentes (Round Lake, Ill.)
Nadine Pourier-Blumenshine (Fresno, Calif.)
Fritz Noman (Houston,Texas)
Kara Milton (Greensboro, N.C.)
Thomas Horsley (Boston, Mass.)
Sponsored message
Dixie Blumenshine (Fresno, Calif.)
Cameron Milton (Greensboro, N.C.)
Thomas Horsley
James O'Halloran (Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom)
Jill and Lauren Gatti (McLean, Va.)
Dallam Masterson (Houston, Texas)
Melinda Burke (Warner Robins, Ga.)
Sponsored message
Kevin Yarn (Durham, N.C.)
Jeanne Greenwald (Kansas City, Mo.)
Manolis Ehpetorpakis (Greece)
Marcia Hayes (Marshfield, Mass.)
Leonard Ginsburg (Union, N.J.)
John McAvoy (Taylorville, Ill.)
Isabel Gomez-Rengifo (Cali, Colombia)
Rocco Dicicco (Fresno, Calif.)
Nelsy Rodriguez (Boyaca, Colombia)
Mildred Cobbinah (Kansas City, Mo.)
Gary Combs (Kingsport, Tenn.)
Isabelle Paik (Bellevue, Neb.)
Susan Bennett Eaton (Gray, Tenn.)
Arnold Abraham
Christi Sargent (Beaverton, Ore.)
Corey Armstrong (Louisville, Ky.)
Charmaine Martin (Trinidad and Tobago)
Mike Loth
Caroline Philips Williams
Joseph Smith (Alexandria, Va.)
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
Corrected July 3, 2014 at 9:00 PM PDT
A previous broadcast version of this story inadvertently omitted the words "establish commerce." The words have been restored to the audio.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
