July 4, 2026, the 250th anniverary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence, once more brought the Living Tradition of “Declaration Day” to Schenectady. As described at the Facebook page of one of its sponsors, Electric City Community Grocery, it was “a full day of events that honor our democratic roots, celebrate community, and speak truth to power.” I was fortunate enough to attend two inspiring events and this posting commemorates them with images and a few words.
With thanks to the SPONSORS: ONE Schenectady, Electric City Food Coop, NAACP Schenectady Branch, and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.
HONORING ROOTS of DEMOCRACY & GREAT LAW of PEACE
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. . [R] our Tree of Peace; [L] explanation of its meaning.
A few dozen goodhearted folks congregated around our White Pine Tree of Peace, along the Mohawk River, near Governor’s Lane in Schenectady’s Riverside Park. As the poster above from its Planting Day explains in part, the Tree is “a powerful symbol of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the world’s longest-enduring participatory democracy.” [See the poster for more inspiring and instructive details.]
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. . Elizabeth Walsh [L] organized and emcee’d the session. And, young Savannah [R] won our hearts by distributing to each member of the circle we formed a stone she had painted on two sides, with words and symbols of joy and peace. Thanks also go to Inner Bliss Yoga and Wellness for helping to make the event a success.
Here are images of the members of our Tree of Peace Circle:
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. . a bald eagal salutes our Peace Tree Circle
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This Slideshow has a few more images from our celebration of roots and peace. [for a larger version of an image, pause the slideshow on the image, right-click and choose Display in a new tab.]
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DECLARATIONS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS
Last year, on July 4, 2025, I very much enjoyed and appreciated the first presentation of Declarations Day at Liberty Park [a/k/a Gateway Plaza]. I wrote about it at this website the very same day in the post “delightful Declaration Day“. The speakers today again proved The Power of the People’s Declarations, with quotations from bold Americans left out of the first Declaration who moved our nation forward by speaking truth to power and declaring new worlds into being.
. . one thing I noticed again was that the presenters came not just to speak but also to listen, with faces both serious and smiling.
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This Slideshow features speakers who told of rights that were once denied and others that are needed to make a more perfect union. [I wish I knew everyone’s name, because they each had words well worth hearing and living; I will add names as I learn them.]
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. The vision and commitments of ONE Schenectady resonated throughout the 2026 event. Click this link to watch the first public reading of the ONE Schenectady Declaration at last year’s inaugural Declaration Day, July 4, 2025.
As usual, I enjoyed people watching and “shooting” them, too. [click on a square tile for a larger version]
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.. Black History was proudly presented .. 
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suns along the Mohawk 
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