James Grogan stood at the entrance to Scoville Park in full Uncle Sam regalia Wednesday, July 8, greeting families, Girl Scouts, and retirees who had come to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud as part of a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of its first public reading.

About 70 people gathered near the corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue for the 15-minute reading, organized by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. Communities across the country read the document at 5 p.m. local time, marking the anniversary of its first public reading in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

Representatives from more than a dozen local organizations each took turns reading a portion of the Declaration. Named participants included the Girl Scouts, the Daughters of the American Revolution's George Rogers Clark chapter, the League of Women Voters of Oak Park and River Forest, and the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Attendees received printed copies to follow along.

"We get to revisit the principles on which the country was founded, and we were so delighted to be included with a bunch of local civic organizations, units of government that practice democracy every day," said Judith Crown, co-president of the League of Women Voters in Oak Park and River Forest.

The hour-long event extended beyond the reading itself. The DAR chapter, League of Women Voters, and Collaboration for Early Childhood staffed information tables and handed out patriotic materials. The Oak Park Public Library rolled in its book bike with titles for all ages available for checkout. A quill-and-ink signing station let attendees put their names on a copy of the Declaration.

Britini Schultz, a book bike assistant with the Oak Park Public Library, said the library's presence fit naturally. "Reading is fundamental. Knowing about our history is fundamental," Schultz said. "We're big believers in the American experiment, and to keep the experiment going strong, we need to see where we've been and think about where we're going."

Fran Knechel, board president of the Historical Society, said the event was about passing civic knowledge across generations. Knechel told the Wednesday Journal that civic education is vital and that coming together as a community to impart that message to the next generation matters. Fellow board member Grogan, in his Uncle Sam getup, said the best part was simply seeing everyone come together.

The Village of River Forest promoted the event to its residents in advance, calling it a nationwide commemoration marking the anniversary of the Declaration's first public reading in 1776. The OPRF Museum, at 129 Lake Street in Oak Park, offered free Illinois Passports as part of the America 250 celebration. The guides direct visitors to historical sites across the state.

No follow-up events have been announced by the Historical Society or participating organizations. Visitors can still pick up a free Illinois Passport at the OPRF Museum during regular hours.