A year ago, (May 28, 2025), the Jeopardy! television quiz program (where the host reads the answer and the contestants ask the questions) reminded us of an important historic event.

The Jeopardy! answer notes the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776 to the people in Philadelphia, PA; Trenton, NJ; and Easton, PA.

Now, 250 years later, on July 8, 2026, Americans in all 50 States, each of the 5 Territories, DC, as well as Midway, Wake, and Palmyra will commemorate that historic event by reading the Declaration of Independence ‘together’ at the ‘same’ time.

To say it another way … Americans will read the Declaration of Independence “from sea to shining sea” (and that’s not just across the contiguous ‘lower 48’, from the Atlantic to the Pacific).

Sharing the Spirit of America will have Americans reading the Declaration of Independence from the Caribbean Sea (Territories of US Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico), across North America (including Alaska), to the Western edge of the Pacific and the Philippine Sea (Territories of Guam & Northern Mariana Islands).

To top (and bottom) it off, Americans will be reading the Declaration of Independence from above the Arctic Circle (Wiseman, Alaska) to below the Equator (Territory of American Samoa).

Sharing the Spirit of America is the simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence; everyone will start at their time zone’s local time corresponding with 6 pm (EDT); wherever you are, convert your reading based on 6 pm (EDT).

This is a nationwide program that is initiated/ sponsored by the Hawai‘i America250 Commission, but it is designed for all Americans to be able to participate, together.

When you think if it, it is waaay cool that Americans across the extent of the country (9,500 miles and 10 time zones) will be doing something positive together – all at the same moment in time.

Thank you for helping to expand the reach of Sharing the Spirit of America and helping get Americans across the country in a unified, positive, and significant experience.

www.hawaiiamerica250.org/sharing-the-spirit-of-america

We look forward to sharing the Declaration of Independence with Americans across the country, on July 8, 2026 – Your Local Time Commensurate with 6 pm (EDT).

#SharingTheSpiritOfAmerica