Town of Scituate July 4th Event

July 4th Program of Events
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT: LTC (RET) ART DUNPHY

ARMY'S “TOP SOLDIER” WILL HIGHLIGHT
SCITUATE'S JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
The top-ranking soldier in the United States Army, General George W. Casey, Jr., will deliver the keynote address at Scituate's celebration of the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th on the Scituate Town Common.
General Casey, the Army Chief of Staff, serves in the same position once held, by Generals John J. Pershing, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas A. McArthur, George Marshall and George S. Patton.
General Casey was born in Japan, where his father, MG George W. Casey, Sr., was stationed at the time. A self-described “Army brat” who has lived in numerous locations around the word while growing up, he lived in Scituate while attending Boston College High School in Dorchester, and regards Scituate, where he currently maintains a home, as his “hometown.” Following graduation from BC High, he attended Georgetown University, where he earned a BS Degree in International Relations and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, in 1970.
The General has served in many command positions prior to assuming his current post as the Army's Chief of Staff, including the Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq.
“More than 50 years have past since Scituate last formally celebrated our nation's birthday,” said Edward Covell, Commander of Scituate's Post 144 of the American Legion, the organizing and sponsoring organization. “and we are happy to play such an important role in reviving this great tradition,”.
Jack Conway is chairman of the Independence Day Committee. In addition to Commander Covell, he is joined by fellow Post 144 Legionnaires Conley Ford, camp commander for the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil war; Gary Carlo, Scituate's Veterans Officer, Ron Wheatley, who is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Steven Litchfield, and Art Dunphy, former State Information Officer for the Massachusetts National Guard. Police Chief Brian Steward and Fire Chief Rick Judge serve in an advisory role to the committee.
There are other persons of note who are expected to take part in this celebration,” according to Mr. Conway. Additional information will be forthcoming during the next few weeks as appearances are confirmed,” he said. Conway, who promises “the most memorable Fourth of July Celebration since Rebecca and Abigail Bates drove the British navy out of Scituate Harbor in 1812.”
Stay tuned.

Gen. George W. Casey, Jr.

Members of Scituate's American Legion Post 144
have been meeting for more than six months in
preparation for the Town's July 4th Independence Day
celebration on the Town Common. Committee members
include (l to r) Conley Ford, Gary Carlo,
Fire Chief Rick Judge (advisor), Chairman Jack Conway,
Franny Litchfield (now deceased),
Police Chief Brian Stewart (advisor), Commander Ed Covell,
Art Dunphy, Ron Wheatley, and Steve Litchfield. All of the
members, with the exception of the two Chiefs, are Legionnaires.


Samantha Lawyer	Peter Mehegan

Peter Mehegan and Samantha Lawyer To Read Our ‘Declarations of Independence’ Most everyone is familiar with THE “Declaration of Independence,” passed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring our nation’s independence from England. But how many are familiar with the action taken by Scituate’s governing body one month earlier, on June 4, 1776, to “unanimously instruct our Delegates in Congress. . . of our readiness and determination to assist with our lives and fortunes in support of our [independence]”? Known as “Scituate’s Declaration of Independence,” these “instructions” will be read in part by Samantha Lawyer, a Scituate High School senior, as part of Scituate’s Independence Day celebration on July 4th. Miss Lawyer earned this honor by placing first at the Post Level in the American Legion’s national “Constitution of the United States Oratory Contest.” She also finished first in the Zone 4 competition and third at the state level. Peter Mehegan will read parts of the national “Declaration”, during the ceremony. Mehegan, a long-time Scituate resident, had been a fixture on the Boston television news scene since 1967, before retiring last year as co-host of “Chronicle,” WCVB-TV’s nightly news magazine.
Sponsored by the Scituate Post #144 of the American Legion, the Independence Day celebration, the first in more than 50 years in Scituate, will take place on the Town Common beginning at 12 noon on July 4th. Also included in the festivities will be another long-time Scituate resident, General George W. Casey, Jr., Chief of Staff of the United States Army, who will be the principal speaker.
Last edited on June 10, 2010