Rare, Original Copy of Declaration of Independence Comes to Savannah
SAVANNAH – September 26, 2008 – A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on public display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, at a FREE public event at the Massie Heritage Center (207 East Gordon Street). The Declaration is one of only 25 surviving Dunlap broadside copies of the famous document that were printed on the evening of July 4, 1776. Cricket Communications Inc, a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, and Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth voter initiative, have partnered to bring the “People’s Document” to cities across the country. Admission is free.
Other activities include on-site voter registration, hands-on children’s activities, a Readers Theatre presentation featuring local children, poetry readings and music by A.W.O.L participants (www.awolinc.org), and a welcome by Mayor Otis Johnston and other local dignitaries. Additionally, visitors can view an informative video hosted by actress Reese Witherspoon, a descendant of one of the original signers of the document, on the history and contemporary relevance of the Declaration, as well as a short film produced by Norman Lear and Rob Reiner featuring a powerful reading of the Declaration by Mel Gibson, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Spacey, Michael Douglas and Renee Zellweger.
Free public parking will be offered at the Kroger at Habersham and Gwinnett St. (Visitors are asked to park on the north side of the lot.) A free shuttle will run from the Kroger parking lot to the event every 10 minutes from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“We are thrilled to partner with Declare Yourself to bring such an amazing national treasure to Savannah,” said Todd Elliott, regional general manager for Cricket. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see American history up close. Nearly half of Cricket’s customers are between the ages of 18 and 34, which means that many will be first-time voters in this election. We felt this was an important initiative to embrace and help our city’s youth understand the importance of independence, freedom and the right to vote.”
This is the only privately owned copy of the Declaration of Independence, owned by Hollywood producer and Declare Yourself founder Norman Lear. Lear purchased this original copy of the Dunlap broadside in a Sotheby’s online auction after it was discovered in 1989 hidden behind a framed painting purchased at a flea market. Lear decided to bring the “People’s Document” directly to Americans through the Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008, which is visiting 14 cities this year.
“Each time we bring this revered document to a city, the interest is overwhelming,” said Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself. “There’s no better way to tell the story of the birth of America than by letting people get up close and personal with the Declaration of Independence. It’s a true reminder of the freedoms we all cherish and the importance of participating in this election year.”
For more information about the Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008, visit www.mycricket.com/declareyourself For more information on the Declare Yourself 2008 voter initiative, visit www.declareyourself.com.
About Cricket
Cricket Communications, Inc. purchased the wireless business of Hargray Communications and will bring Cricket’s products and services to the Savannah/Hilton Head market in October. Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devices and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket services are offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.
About Declare Yourself
Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that energizes and empowers every eligible 18- to 29-year-old in America to register and vote in the 2008 presidential election. Partnering with leaders in education, the entertainment industry, popular online destinations and media outlets, the fashion industry and retailers, Declare Yourself registered more than 1.2 million people in the 2004 and 2006 elections at www.DeclareYourself.com. The nonprofit, founded by Norman Lear, was launched in 2003 as the culmination of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a nationwide multi-media exhibit and tour of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
