Pictured left to right: Carolyn Caulkins, Regent, Moccasin Bend Chapter; Cindy Dearing, Regent, Chickamauga Chapter; Cindy Anchondo, Regent, Nancy Ward Chapter; Jennifer Harvey, Regents Council Chair and member of Chief John Ross Chapter; Samantha Green, Regent, Judge David Campbell Chapter, and Candace Barger, Regent; Chief John Ross Chapter
Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga and Hamilton County Historian
photo by Shelia Harding Cannon
Mayor Weston Wamp
photo by Shelia Harding Cannon
Bill Norton, Chairman of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, Combat Marine, Vietnam
photo by Shelia Harding Cannon
Patriotic citizens
photo by Shelia Harding Cannon
A public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the south steps of the Hamilton County Courthouse was held on Wednesday.
The event was co-sponsored by Hamilton County Government, the City of Chattanooga Government, the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, the Chattanooga Bar Association and the Chattanooga Regents Council, NSDAR [Chickamauga, Chief John Ross, Judge David Campbell, Moccasin Bend and Nancy Ward Chapters].
The ceremony began with an address from Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga and Hamilton County historian and from Mayor Weston Wamp. Following their address, Mayor Weston Wamp, Linda Moss Mines, Jennifer Harvey, council chair and member of the Chief John Ross chapter; Candace Barger, Regent of the Chief John Ross chapter; Carolyn Caulkins, Regent of the Moccasin Bend Chapter; Cindy Dearing, Regent of the Chickamauga Chapter; Cindy Anchondo, Regent of the Nancy Ward Chapter; Samantha Green, Regent of the Judge David Campbell Chapter, veterans, and patriotic citizens participated in 'speaking of the words' agreed upon by the Second Continental Congress.
This public reading given by individuals from all walks of life emphasized that this document belongs to every citizen of the United States of America.
After the Declaration of Independence was read in its entirety, Bill Norton, Chairman of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council. Combat Marine, Vietnam, led the everyone in the pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag.