LOWELL — As communities across Massachusetts prepare to celebrate Independence Day, State Representative Tara Hong, State Representative Rodney Elliott, and James Ostis, Chief of Staff for State Senator Vanna Howard, were honored to present a commemorative replica of the Declaration of Independence to the City of Lowell during Tuesday evening’s Lowell City Council meeting.
“This year is truly a historic one,” said Representative Tara Hong (D-Lowell). “As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we are also proud to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the City of Lowell. These milestones remind us not only of where we have come from, but also of the responsibility we all share in shaping the future.”
The presentation was made possible through an initiative led by Representative Sean Garballey, House Chair of the Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, in partnership with Revolution 250.
Through this initiative, 351 historically accurate reproductions of the Declaration of Independence were printed—one for every city and town across Massachusetts—to commemorate the nation’s founding and encourage civic engagement throughout the Commonwealth.
Representative Hong picked up one of the 351 commemorative copies at the Massachusetts State House and, alongside Representative Elliott and Senator Howard’s Office, proudly presented it to the City of Lowell.
“As we all know, the story of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution more broadly began in Massachusetts. As we prepare to commemorate 250 years of the Declaration’s signing, I am very pleased that our State House delegation was able to present a high-quality reprint of the document that will now be on display at Lowell City Hall,” said State Senator Vanna Howard (D-Lowell). “As a member of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, I want to thank our committee chairs, Senator Paul Mark and Representative Sean Garballey, for spearheading this important initiative with Revolution 250 to provide copies of the Declaration of Independence to all 351 cities and towns across Massachusetts.”
The delegation recognizes the lasting contributions of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who served as the original senate Co-Chair when the Special Commission on 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution was first established.
Senator Kennedy’s leadership and lifelong commitment to preserving our nation’s history and strengthening civic engagement helped lay the foundation for the important work that continues today.
The replica is a faithful reproduction of the historic Ezekiel Russell Declaration of Independence, originally printed in Salem in July 1776.
The document was produced on a reproduction “Franklin-style” printing press using linen and cotton paper, resulting in a replica closely resembling the original copies distributed nearly 250 years ago.
“Massachusetts has always held a special place in the story of our nation’s founding. Nearly 250 years ago, our Commonwealth became the only state to ensure that every town received and publicly shared the Declaration of Independence,” said Representative Rodney Elliott (D-Lowell) during Tuesday night’s council meeting. “Today, we are proud to continue that tradition by presenting this authentic reproduction to the City of Lowell. As we celebrate both our nation’s 250th anniversary and Lowell’s bicentennial, may this historic document remind us of the enduring values of freedom, civic responsibility, and public service that continue to unite our community.”
Massachusetts holds a unique place in American history. In 1776, it was the only state to distribute the Declaration of Independence to every town, requiring ministers to read it from the pulpit, and directing town clerks to handwrite the Declaration into their official record books.
Continuing that proud tradition, Massachusetts is once again the only state providing authentically printed reproductions to each of its 351 cities and towns. The Commonwealth hopes each municipality will preserve its Declaration and display it during annual civic commemorations, allowing future generations to reflect on the enduring principles of liberty, equality, democracy, and public service that continue to shape our nation.
As Lowell joins communities across Massachusetts in commemorating these historic anniversaries, Representative Hong encouraged residents to reflect on the values that unite us and recommit themselves to serving one another.
“Together, we can ensure that the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy continue to guide our city, our Commonwealth, and our nation for generations to come,” said Rep Hong.
To learn more about Massachusetts 250 events and celebrations happening across the Commonwealth, visit https://massachusetts250.org/.
