Chicago History Museum 4th of July Celebration

A large crowd gathered at the Chicago History Museum in Chicago to celebrate the Fourth of July. It was a beautiful, sunny day in the City, after a cool, rainy month of June.

Per tradition at the Museum, Uncle Sam on stilts let the Children's Parade and posed for pictures.  The Americana Concert Band not only played patriotic songs, This year, it included Sinatra's classics and music by Irving Berlin.

Museum president Gary T. Johnson introduced David D. Hiller, president and chief executive officer of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, who led the Pledge of Allegiance following the posting of the colors.

This year, the Declaration of Independence was competently read by two students from the Chicago High School of the Arts.  Ron Gidwitz, civic leader and former CEO of Helene Curis, gave the keynote address. He compared the economic woes of high taxes at the time of the Revolution with what is currently happening in Chicago and Illinois.  He urged people to show their voice and vote in order to be represented in government.

The program concluded witht eh musket firing by the King's Regiment 8th of Foot.

Click on a photo below to view slide show.