DEARBORN ~ WJR host and author Mitch Albom joined community leaders, historians, and guests at Greenfield Village on July 8 for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the document’s first public reading in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The event was part of Sharing the Spirit of America, a nationwide observance that synchronized Declaration readings across the United States.
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(CONTINUED) Hosted by The Henry Ford, the free evening program served as Michigan’s statewide observance of the national commemoration. Albom was joined by Michigan National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, The Henry Ford Curator of Political and Civic Engagement Heather Bruegl, Wayne State University history graduate Addison Tracy, and America250MI Program Director Robert Duran-Brockway in reading portions of the nation’s founding document before Greenfield Village’s Town Hall.
The reading began at 6 p.m. Eastern, matching the coordinated start time observed by communities nationwide. Organizers said Americans in all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and other participating locations were invited to read the Declaration simultaneously, creating a shared moment of reflection on the nation’s founding principles. Events were held from Hawaii to Texas, while additional gatherings took place at libraries, museums, civic buildings, and public squares across the country.
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(CONTINUED) Beyond the reading itself, guests at Greenfield Village enjoyed live music, historical presentations, interactive activities, and family-friendly experiences tied to America’s semiquincentennial celebration. The Henry Ford said the event was designed to bring people together to reflect on the Declaration’s enduring legacy and the values that continue to shape the nation’s story 250 years after the document was first read aloud to the public.
The gathering was one of several America250 programs taking place throughout 2026 as communities across the country mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and revisit the events that helped define the nation’s founding.
