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A performance of “Declaring Independence: Then & Now” was presented on July 21 as a collaborative effort by the Westford Historical Society, the First Parish Church United and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.
The performance explored such questions as, what did the Declaration of Independence mean to citizens of 1776 and what meanings does it hold today?
The program is part of a multi-year joint initiative of Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area and the American Antiquarian Society to engage citizens in the ideas and transformative potential of the Declaration of Independence.
“Freedom’s Way is one of 55 national heritage areas in the United States,” said Desiree Demski-Hamelin, Deputy Director, Freedom’s Way.
This initiative includes researching the ways in which independence was conceived and debated within colonial communities in the years leading up to 1776; tracing how the Declaration’s role evolved in American communities; and considering the challenges and potential of this living document for Americans today.
The program was recorded at the Westford Museum on July 21.
Presenters were: Desiree Demski-Hamelin, Deputy Director, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area; Leslie Howard, Vice President, Westford Historical Society; Lisa Sama, Secretary, Westford Historical Society; Anita Tonakarn-Nguyen, Chairman, Westford Cultural Council; Linda Greene, Director, Westford Museum; Alyssa Vuilleumier; Denise Vuilleumier, Board Member of WHS, Elizabeth Almeida, Westford Selectman
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area
According to the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Areas website, “National Heritage Areas are places that tell a rich and distinctly American story. Usually managed by a partnership of organizations and local governments with a single coordinating body, they pool resources (cultural, natural, and financial) to promote and conserve the region for the benefit of both present and future residents and visitors.”
