The public is invited to attend the 53rd annual patriotic ceremony celebrating our nation’s independence Tuesday, July 4 at 1 p.m. at the Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial on Kaskaskia Island. The 320 year old Village of Kaskaskia is home to the Liberty Bell of the West and the site where the Illinois National Guard established its first Militia 300 years ago on May 9, 1723.
This year’s July 4 program will feature remarks by Dr. Deborah Barnett who proudly serves as the first executive director for SI Now, a 17 county southern Illinois regional economic development initiative; southernillinoisnow.org.
For more on the celebration, please see this week’s print edition.