Beech Fork State Park to Host 'America Through the Years: Let Freedom Ring' July

Posted by: Allen Canfield on Fri, 24 May 2002 14:25:48 (664 Reads)

Beech Fork State Park will host "America Through The Years: Let Freedom Ring" July 4, 2002. This event, the only of its kind in West Virginia State Parks, is a celebration of patriotism and a salute to our Nation's heritage. The program and associated displays will give the audience an opportunity to focus on the ever-changing face of the United States of America.

This year's program will provide a glimpse of America's past, present and future. Scheduled events include a Flag raising ceremony conducted by the Marine Corps League Huntington Detachment #340 and military honor guard from VFW Post 1064. Rifle volleys, patriotic music, and military "Taps" will pay tribute to all American veterans. The program will include remarks by keynote speaker, Hershel W. "Woodie" Williams, West Virginia's only living Congressional Medal of Honor winner, and other local and State dignitaries. The day-long patriotic celebration will include living history "stations" focusing on America's earliest settlers through the Civil War into the 21st Century. Reenactors in period dress will provide spectators with a realistic view of life as it was throughout the early years of America's history. The living histories will include some of the best first-person interpretations in our area. Native American, Revolutionary War, Buckskinners of early America, and Civil War encampments will be set up throughout the park. Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution will be read and Betsy Ross will be completing the American Flag. Photography story boards will be used to depict other times and aspects of life in "America Through The Years."

A special addition to this Independence Day program at Beech Fork State Park will be the "Let Freedom Ring" bell ringing ceremony at 2:00 PM. Let Freedom Ring has been a national July 4 tradition for more than 200 years. In 1963, a joint resolution of Congress officially authorized the "Let Freedom Ring" National Bell Ringing Ceremony. In 2001, more than 10,000 people in hundreds of cities across America participated in the program to honor the delegates from the thirteen Colonies who adopted the Declaration of Independence. Participants join a "roll of honor" and will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Pennsylvania Sons of the Revolution, sponsors of the nationwide program. The annual bell ringing ceremony begins at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pa. Thirteen young people will be chosen to ring the bell during the "America Through The Years-Let Freedom Ring" program at Beech Fork State Park.

Every participant and park guest on July 4, 2002 will receive a commemorative item. A campground-wide "red, white and blue" decorating contest will be conducted during the week with a "Let Freedom Ring" theme.

A public reception, sponsored by Huntington Chapter 150 United Daughters of the Confederacy and Louisa, Kentucky Chapter 4-056 Daughters of the Revolution, will follow the bell ringing ceremonies.

This year's July 4 holiday celebration at Beech Fork State Park will also include a performance of "Dreams Come True," an original, family-oriented stage production by 50 students of the Rio Hondo Preparatory School in Arcadia, California. For the past 26 years, the student troupe has entertained campground guests all across America and Canada. The program includes a patriotic pre-show and a full-length musical play, lasting approximately one hour. Both are performed on an unbelievable foldout stage. The performance is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2002 at 7:00 PM.

This project is being presented by Beech Fork State Park with financial assistance from The West Virginia Humanities Council, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380
Contact: Debbie Keener, Supt., Beech Fork State Park (304) 528-5794