Tuesday March 19th, 2024 2:40AM

Gainesville lawyers, Hall Co. Sheriff read aloud Declaration of Independence

By Jerry Gunn Reporter
GAINESVILLE — Twenty-four Gainesville area attorneys, their sons and their daughters, and Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch, read aloud Thursday in Kenyon Plaza downtown the words that started it all for America.

The Northeast Circuit Bar Association believes that the Declaration of Independence is just as important today as it was 239 years ago.

Words like this had never been written before.

"All men are created equal, they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

This was a serious document. In so many words, the 56 signers let the English King George know exactly how they felt, exactly why they wanted to become the United States of America, and exactly what they were willing to sacrifice.

"We mutually pledge to each other our lives, or fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Public Defender Larry Duttweiler, who coordinated the event, said the document signers made it clear why they wanted independence from the English crown.

"It's a chance to remind people of the great freedoms we enjoy and also that this document came about as a result of a war with our government," he said.

Revolutionary War re-enactors, members of the Gainesville Sons of the American Revolution, rolled back the clock, marching in Continental Army uniforms as  they presented present day and historic flags of the period. One of them was Robert McCleskey, who re-created a toast offered in 1840 in Gainesville by his fifth great grandfather to commemorate the Declaration.

"He claimed seven years of service, his name was James McCleskey," he said. McCleskey recalled his ancestor's war record was disputed but his company commander vouched for him.

Public readings of the Declaration of Independence began as a grass-roots effort by attorneys across the country several years ago. This is the fourth year members of the Gainesville-Northeastern Circuit Bar Association have participated.

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  • Associated Tags: Fourth of July, Declaration of Independence, Northeast Georgia Bar Association
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