The Berks County Commissioners would like to invite the public to a patriotic ceremony on Wednesday, July 8, at Noon in front of the County Services Center at 633 Court Street, in Reading.  Music from the Ringgold Band will begin at 11:30 am. 

The ceremony will include the history of the Berks Liberty Bell, ringing of the Liberty Bell, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by descendants of the original Berks County Sheriff Henry Vanderslice who read the original document to Reading and Berks residents on July 8, 1776. 

In case of inclement weather, the celebration will be held inside the County Services Center in the auditorium.

This event will culminate the 250^th anniversary celebrations for the America250PA Berks committee and transition into Berks 275, a group dedicated to the celebration of the 275^th anniversary of the founding of Berks County in 2027.

• Program begins at Noon 7/8/26
  • Welcome – Commissioner Leinbach
  • Introduction of Special Guests – Commissioner Leinbach
  • Opening Prayer – Rabbi Brian I. Michelson/Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom
  • National Anthem – Ringgold Band and audience
  • Pledge – Will Tobin/Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer | Deputy Director, Berks County VA – Joined by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution)
  • History of the Bell – Berks History Center
  • Speaker America250PA – TBD
  • God Bless America – Ringgold Band and Audience
  • Ringing the Bell – 13 strikes
  • Reading of the Declaration of Ind. – Dr. Dale Cake (5th Great Grandson) & Jennifer Loveland (6th Great Granddaughter) of Berks County Sheriff Henry Vanderslice who read the Declaration on July 8, 1776, at the Berks County Courthouse.
  • Reading in Spanish – Rev. Nicolas Camacho
  • Reading in German – Laurel Miller/History Committee Chair
  • Comments from Berks County Commissioners
  • Closing Prayer – Berks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Scott Lash
  • American the Beautiful – Ringgold Band and Audience