More than 100 visitors ringed Fort William Henry in Colonial Pemaquid Saturday as historical reenactor Don Loprieno read aloud the Declaration of Independence and explained how the nation’s founders crafted the world famous document.
“Where in the course of human events,” began the document that Thomas Jefferson wrote for the delegates gathered in Philadelphia during the summer of 1776 in what became the first Continental Congress.
“It was a document that didn’t make everyone happy,” Loprieno said.
For example, it said “all men are created equal,” but Abigail Adams was not amused that women were not mentioned, he said.
The delegates, under pressure from South Carolina and Georgia, eliminated Jefferson’s stern condemnation of British King George for condoning and protecting slavery.
Loprieno told the crowd that Jefferson sat next to Benjamin Franklin during the deliberations and complained that they had re-written his document.
He reminded the onlookers that Franklin also preached that freedom does have responsibilities. “The right to swing my fist ends at the other man’s nose,” he said.
While the delegates argued over the declaration and its wording, one thing was on their minds, said Loprieno.
“By signing the document, they became traitors and faced death,” he said.
As the costumed history buff concluded his presentation, he led the crowd to give a trio’s of “Huzzahs” for the men who crafted the document and their work, which became the founding document of the nation.
As the crowd stood up, Naomi Walker, a Rio Vista, California resident and Nobleboro native looked up. “I can’t believe it,” she said pointing to the sky.
As if on cue, a bald eagle flew over the edge of Fort William Henry and floated over the blue waters of John’s Bay.
