The event was held Monday evening in Ottumwa.
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- "When in the Course of human events" are the words that begin the Declaration of Independence.
The Wapello County Republican Party hosted the family event for an 8th year on the steps of the Ottumwa Library in Central Park on Monday. Included at the event was an ice cream social, children's activities and music.
In total, 13 citizens took turns reading a portion of the document.
"We try to get people that kind of represent the actual signers, what their occupations were. And in one day, our nation was formed. That was the day that they signed it. It was less than 30 days from the time they were told to write it, till it actually got signed," said Trudy Caviness, the Chairwoman of the Wapello County Republican Party.
She added that it is a great way to begin the July 4th holiday.
"I think probably even today, the Declaration of Independence has more value; there are more and more people that are reading it, more and more people are reading the Constitution. And they realize what our Founding Fathers did and what a remarkable document that has lasted this many years," Caviness said.
Following the reading, as is the tradition, those present at the event were asked to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
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