New Rochelle 250th Anniversary Declaration of Independence Reading – July 15, 2026
New Rochelle 250th Anniversary Commemoration – July 15, 2026
The City of New Rochelle held a special ceremony to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence with readings of the Declaration of Independence and related texts, speeches, and reflections on liberty and ongoing struggles for equality. The event featured local officials, historians, students, and community members, emphasizing both the nation’s founding ideals and the unfinished work of realizing them for all.
Opening Remarks and Historical Context
- Sam Gomez, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, welcomed attendees and shared his personal story as an immigrant from Peru, stating the country’s promise of hard work and freedom enabled him to stand before the audience.
- Mayor Ramos Herbert reflected on the complexity of patriotism, acknowledging the nation's imperfections (e.g., racism and misogyny) while honoring progress. She noted her family’s history – grandparents with limited education and ancestors enslaved – and said love for country means recognizing where growth is needed.
- City Manager Wilfredo Melendez emphasized that local government exists to protect the rights enshrined in the Declaration, inspiring leaders to make neighborhoods safe and free.
- Barbara Davis, City Historian, provided historical context: The Declaration was approved July 2, 1776, formally adopted July 4, and first read publicly in New York on July 11, 1776, after New York delegates reached consensus. She noted that British and Hessian troops encamped in New Rochelle in October 1776, and Westchester County endured the war longer and harder than any other region.
Readings of the Declaration and Related Texts
- Dr. Betty Campbell read the Preamble and the iconic sentence “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…”
- Several residents read that same sentence in Italian (Madalipachi), German (Ulrich), Farsi (Zara J. Lawyer), and Haitian Creole (Valerie Cadet Simkins), reflecting the city’s cultural diversity.
- Local students (Fernando Cortez, Brooke Lancer, Nor Abdala, Kabir Balia) read abridged excerpts from the Declaration listing grievances against King George III, including obstruction of justice, making the military superior to civil power, and “plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns.”
- Judith Henry (retired educator, first vice president of New Rochelle NAACP) and Dr. Alprentice McCutcheon (social studies teacher) performed Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” which condemned the hypocrisy of celebrating liberty while millions were enslaved. Douglass’s words called for “scorching irony, not convincing argument” and affirmed hope in the Declaration’s principles.
- Barbara Crane (Thomas Paine Historical Society) and Fela Cortez (Library Board Trustee) read the Declaration of Sentiments from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, which asserted “all men and women are created equal” and listed grievances against the denial of education, self-respect, and citizenship to women.
- Ginny Rock Bailey, a Lenape descendant and New Rochelle resident, read a 2023 statement from the Native American International Caucus titled “A Merciless Reminder on the Fourth of July.” It criticized the Declaration’s reference to “merciless Indian savages,” broken treaties, and ongoing exclusion, while affirming Indigenous survival and resilience: “We are still here.”
Reflections on Liberty and Ongoing Work
- Speakers and readings collectively acknowledged that while the Declaration’s ideals are foundational, many groups – including African Americans, women, and Indigenous peoples – have been excluded from its promises. The ceremony called for continued efforts toward equality and inclusion, with the mayor urging recognition of both celebration and the need to “keep fighting.”
Upcoming Events and Announcements
- A wishing wall was set up outside council chambers, part of a nationwide database of 250th anniversary wishes.
- A tall ship visit is scheduled for October 14–18, 2026, coinciding with the military activity in the region.
- Reenactments of the Battle of Pelham and the Battle of White Plains (at Ward Poundridge Reservation) are planned.
- An exhibit titled “It Happened Here” is on display, featuring firsthand accounts and contemporary photographs of Revolutionary War sites in New Rochelle.
- Attendees were encouraged to visit the city’s website for the full calendar of 250th anniversary events.
Note: The transcript indicates the event occurred on July 11, 2026, but the supplied metadata gives the date as July 15, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. My name is Sam Gomez. I'm the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the city of New York Show. So on behalf of the city, I would like to welcome you. So 250 years, what does it mean for us? I think, especially in days like this, I think it means everyone here at this table and the equality and the diversity. And the words of our forefathers when he said equality for all, and it means for all of us, right? Seeing this group of people here, all celebrating the same thing, celebration this country that has made us all who we are today. I'm an immigrant from Peru. I moved here when I was 13. Um because of this country, I am standing here in front of you today. And I think that's basically the promise of our forefathers, right? Being able to work hard, being able to be free, being able to make something of yourselves. So for that I am thankful, and I am thankful for all of you here, and that we are celebrating this anniversary together. Thank you. I would like to introduce uh a mayor dear Ramos Herbert. Thank you, Sam, and thank you everyone for taking the time to be here today. Um I'm a history major, that's what I studied in undergrad, and I I'm a junkie for all of the shows and all of the books. And this year, there's been a lot of like documentary, and I'm like nerding out in a very typical fashion, and my kids similarly typically are making fun of me for watching all like another history show, mom. That's amazing, so much as you know. But recently, my kids, you know, I was telling them how much I I was really excited about the Fourth of July. And I'm just reading, I was I said that the Pledge of Allegiance actually is one of my favorite things to hear, read, and recite. And I think I must have like entered another level of nerd them to my children. They're like, why? Why? And in particular, mom, like, how do you balance racism? Or like being a woman, I don't think they use the word misogyny, but sort of implied that. Like, how do you balance that? And you're still so proud. And I said to him, it's it can be complicated. I'm not pretending it's not complicated, but love doesn't mean just loving the perfection. Love means recognizing where there is growth. And so I said to them, your grandparents didn't go past the third grade, and your mom is the mayor. I can honor this country for that opportunity. On her dad's side, they are the descendant of slaves in this country. Her grandparents went to segregated schools well after Brown v. Bord of Ed in Maryland. And my children get to go to school in this amazing district. So I said to her, for me, when I hear the pledge, when I read it, when I read the declaration, when I see the struggle, I take it as the opportunity to honor the potential, but to fight for the equity, to fight for the equality, and to bring more of us to the table. I don't see it as a reason to not love. In fact, it makes me love even more. And so I don't take it lightly that I get to stand here as the mayor. I really don't. We're here now, we keep fighting, and we make it better for our kids and for our future. And so I really again appreciate everyone being here, taking the time to celebrate, because we can still celebrate and acknowledge the gaps. We can still celebrate and feel empowered to fight forward. We can live in that duality. And I think when we take the time to recognize our history, we sort of take that charge and move it forward. Um, before I pass before I move on, I forgot the elected roles part. So I want to make sure I acknowledge the elected in the room.
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