The 4th of July festivities throughout the county are celebrated with parades and fireworks.
But at the county’s nine post offices, volunteers will be part of a more reflective activity.
Rink Smith of Omena stepped up 11 years ago to read the Declaration of Independence from the porch of his post office.
“The Declaration … is a nonspecifi c document, a proclamation of freedom and liberty,” Smith said. “It’s profound.”
We the People are given unalienable rights … that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
By signing the document, the 56 men risked high treason against the King of England. In essence, they signed their death warrants because that was the penalty.
However, death was not simple or quick. It was a process. First, the guilty party was to be hanged until unconscious. Then cut down and revived. Then disembowled and beheaded. Then cut in quarters. Each quarter was to be boiled in oil. The remnants were scattered abroad so the last resting place of the offender would remain forever unnamed, unhonored and unknown.
Talk about bravery.
So in the midst of all sorts of celebration, take a minute to consider the bravery and conviction of our forefathers 248 years ago.
This is the ninth year the Declaration has been read publicly at post offices throughout the county.
Thursday at 10 a.m. Smith will be at the Omena Post Office. Simultaneously, the Declaration will be read at post offices in Northport, Suttons Bay, Leland, Lake Leelanau, Cedar, Glen Arbor, Northport and Empire.
