Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution will host its annual Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 4, throughout Newport.
Schedule Of Events
9:00 am: Colony House on Washington Sq. will be open for inspection.
The Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution will join the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Artillery Company of Newport with a ceremony honoring William Ellery, Newport signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the grave site in the Common Burying Ground, Farewell St.
10:00 am: Patriotic band concert by the Newport Community Band at Salve Regina University in Eisenhower Park. Bring a chair and enjoy some great music in the park.
Bike Newport will also hold their annual bike parade from Liberty Park to the concert. BikeNewportRi.org/4thJuly
11:00 am: Annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by SR President Roy Lauth. In historical context, Major John Handy read the Declaration from the steps of the Colony House in 1776. RISR continues that tradition.
11:30 am (approximately): 21 gun salute to the Nation by the Artillery Company of Newport with cannon cast by Paul Revere.
The Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution provides more information on the 4th of July activities on its website;
4th of July: The Independence Day celebration is by far the largest event that is sponsored by the Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution. The day begins at the grave of William Ellery in the Common Burying Ground on Farewell Street in Newport. Members of the DAR hold a ceremony honoring Rhode Island’s signer of the Declaration of Independence with officers of the RISR taking part. At 10:00 am the RISR sponsors a rousing patriotic band concert by the Salve Regina University Community Band. Members of the RISR pass out flags and booklets to the assembled public containing copies of America’s historic founding documents. During this time the Colony House which was the seat of Government for the State of Rhode Island is open for inspection and tours. At 11:00 am a member of the RISR recreates the reading of the Declaration of Independence that took place on the steps of the Colony House in July of 1776 by Major John Handy. The Artillery Company of Newport follows with a 21 gun salute to the Nation using their battery of four cannons cast by Paul Revere in 1798. Following the ceremonies, members and invited guests typically retire to the White Horse Tavern for toasts to our Revolutionary War heroes followed by a luncheon and comradery.
The Sons of the Revolution was founded in 1876 by members of the Society of the Cincinnati wishing to broaden participation in preserving the American Heritage on the eve of this country’s centennial. Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization devoted to the principles and ideals of its founders, the modern Society maintains its headquarters, in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia with 30 societies in the United States and Europe.
The Rhode Island Society was formed in Newport on August 29, 1896. The Rhode Island Society was founded on September 26, 1896.
