As our community concludes an unforgettable Independence Day weekend celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the Kent USA 250th Committee would like to offer our most profound thanks to everyone who made our town-wide celebrations possible.
What we witnessed was far more than a series of commemorative events. It was a remarkable demonstration of the generous civic spirit and neighborly cooperation that has always defined Kent. From the first planning meetings months ago to the final notes of Taps, hundreds of people came together to create a celebration worthy of this historic milestone.
Before recognizing the many organizations and volunteers who made this celebration possible, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to those whose vision and support helped bring this effort to life. We especially thank Marty Lindenmeyer, whose leadership first brought this committee together, and Matt Fraser, who helped launch the Kent USA 250th Committee many months ago and set this remarkable effort in motion.
We are equally grateful to the Town of Kent and its dedicated staff for their steadfast support throughout the planning process. We extend our appreciation to First Selectman Eric Epstein, Joyce Kerns, Barbara Herbst, and everyone at Town Hall who worked behind the scenes to help make these events a success.
We also wish to recognize our honorary committee members, Brent Kallstrom and Bobbie Davis, whose enthusiasm and tireless volunteerism strengthened every aspect of this celebration.
Kent once again succeeded because so many organizations answered the call to serve.
To the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, including its EMS crew and Auxiliary members, thank you for making Friday evening’s parade and celebration both memorable and safe. To CERT, thank you for your invaluable assistance with parade operations and public safety.
To the Kent Lions Club, thank you for donating not only your time, but also the hot dogs, chips, and soda. You have again fed our community and equally nourished our hearts with your generosity.
To the Kent Chamber of Commerce, your wildly creative energy was truly inspiring. George Washington himself would have been proud to have you serving in the Continental Army.
To the Kent Historical Society, thank you for everything you contributed, especially the outstanding Homespun exhibit at Seven Hearths. To those of you reading this right now who have not yet visited this remarkable exhibition, we encourage you to make time to do so!
Thank you to the Kent Land Trust for offering engaging hikes and family activities that connected our community with the landscape that has shaped Kent’s history.
Our appreciation also goes to the Eric Sloane Museum, for hosting its annual bell ringing celebration along with the Ironworks Weekend and Historic Trades Day events, both of which highlighted Kent’s early industrial heritage and valuable contributions to the revolution. We would also like to thank the Eric Sloane Estate for the use of Sloane’s artwork for our Kent USA 250th logo.
Thank you also to CAMA, and we look forward to continuing the celebration with the Fireman’s Muster on July 11.
Our appreciation also goes to the Roger Sherman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Boy Scout Troop 11, Cub Scout Pack 11, and Matt Winter for leading the fine young men of the Scouts’ Color Guard.
We also thank Jennie Rehnberg and the DAR for providing the beautiful commemorative Betsy Ross flag.
We also recognize Hall Jennings American Legion Post #153 and encourage everyone to seek out the new Revolutionary War Monument, which will soon become part of Kent’s Veterans Memorial. And, of course, where would our ceremonies have been without your Revolutionary War cannon!
The Committee also wishes to recognize Lynn Gray for independently taking on the initiative to arrange the “Americans Who Tell the Truth” visual display on Falcon Field. Inspired by Robert Shetterly’s portrait series uses art, history, education, and civic engagement to inspire active citizenship by sharing the stories of courageous Americans whose lives encourage democratic participation, positive change, and a lasting commitment to the common good. The “Americans Who Tell the Truth” documentary will air at the Kent Memorial Library on July 11th.
To the Kent Quilters, we thank you for crafting a beautiful commemorative quilt featuring the students of Kent Center School. This is a truly enriching gift for the town featuring your detailed, striking artistry. We also thank Elysia Magazzi who is working to bring history to life through the inspiring work of the late Cornwall artist Charles Besozzi (1904–1997). His painting “Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence,” created in honor of the American Bicentennial in 1976, is now on display at the Kent Town Hall. If you would like to explore more of Mr. Besozzi’s remarkable work, additional paintings from his early American history collection are on display at So Lost Sew Found Gallery, 23 Kent Green Boulevard.
The committee also extends sincere thanks to The Kent Dispatch and the Kent Democratic Town Committee for reminding us that few things are more American than freedom of the press, civic participation, and being present at town events to ensure everyone is registered to vote.
One of the highlights of our Independence Day celebration was Kent’s participation in the National Bell Ringing Across America, a cherished tradition inspired by our own Eric Sloane. We are especially grateful to South Kent School, Kent School, St. Andrew’s, and the Kent Congregational Church, whose bells rang together in unison, joining other towns across the nation in marking this moment in time.
A special thank you goes to the Kent Memorial Library for organizing so many outstanding educational programs throughout this commemorative year, including the community reading of the Declaration of Independence. We are especially grateful to Library Director Sarah Marshall, Honorary Creative Director Jane Farnol, and the many Kent residents who lent their voices to bring our nation’s founding document vividly to life. One of the day’s most memorable moments was hearing our youngest readers proudly recite the names of each of the fifty-six signers, reminding us that the ideals of liberty are passed from one generation to the next.
As each signer placed their name upon the Declaration of Independence, they pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Those words were far more than eloquent rhetoric. They represented a solemn promise to risk personal safety, financial security, reputation, and family welfare for the cause of independence, believing that a life without liberty was no life at all. Their extraordinary courage and sacrifice gave birth to a new nation and continue to inspire Americans 250 years later.
We are also grateful to the many local businesses and individuals whose generosity enriched this celebration. Thank you to SoDelicious Bakery for the magnificent birthday, to David Schreiber and the crew at Club Getaway for generously providing DJ David for the music; to Joe Colombatto of Video Heritage for documenting these historic events; to Elizabeth Forbes for her beautiful a cappella performance of the National Anthem; and to Lee Sohl for concluding our ceremonies with her moving performance of Taps.
If we have unintentionally overlooked anyone, we sincerely apologize. That possibility simply reflects the extraordinary number of people who volunteered their time, talents, and resources. The spirit of American volunteerism is one of our nation’s greatest strengths, and Kent demonstrated that spirit in abundance. It is remarkable what a small town can accomplish when neighbors work together for a common purpose.
Finally, we thank every resident, family, visitor, and friend who joined us throughout the weekend. Your participation transformed these commemorations into true community celebrations. America’s story belongs to all of us, and together we honored not only our nation’s founding but also the enduring values of service, liberty, and civic responsibility that continue to bind our community together.
For those who were unable to attend, the weekend’s events were professionally filmed by Video Heritage and is available on the Town’s YouTube channel HERE with closed caption options, so everyone can experience the celebration.
If you did not have an opportunity to sign Kent’s commemorative copy of the Declaration of Independence, you still have the chance to do so! The document will be in the Town Clerk’s Office starting this week. Once everyone has had an opportunity to sign, the Kent USA 250th Committee will host an official unveiling ceremony. The document will then be permanently displayed in the Town Hall alongside the United States Constitution, which Kent residents signed during the Constitution’s Bicentennial observances in 1989. We hope generations of future residents will see these documents as symbols of our shared commitment to the ideals that have guided our nation for over the centuries.
As this extraordinary anniversary comes to a close, we already look ahead with excitement to our next great community milestone: the 300th anniversary of Kent’s founding in 2039. If the past two days have shown us anything, it is that Kent knows how to come together to celebrate and inspire future generations!
From all of us on the Kent USA 250th Committee, thank you for reminding us that the strength of America has always been found in towns just like ours. Patriotism is formed not only by the grand moments of history, but by neighbors serving neighbors and a community joining together in the shared preservation of our liberty and sacred American bonds.
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene Brady
Sarah A. Chase, Chair
Melissa Cherniske
Philip Fox
The Reverend Stephen B. Klots
Cathe Mazza
Sarah Marshall
Meadow Moerschell
Andrew Rowand
Jill Schlosson
Marge Smith
The Kent USA 250th Committee