Discovery Park hosts inaugural ‘Ringing of the Bell’ July 4 celebration

UNION CITY, Tenn. — It’s been almost 240 years since the Liberty Bell rang throughout America to announce their Declaration of Independence, and Monday the Discovery Park of America honored that moment in history with their own ringing of the bell.

This year the DPA hosted their third annual Fourth of July celebration, and this year they are starting a new tradition.

“That’s called the ringing of the bell, and actually it’s a nationwide thing that different companies, different businesses and different museums participate in,” Katie Jarvis with the DPA said.

The ringing of the park’s replica of the Liberty Bell drew a small crowd to listen to the words that helped bring the freedoms we experience every day.

“So this is a step back, a connection to our forefathers in that we are going to ring our replica of the Liberty Bell just like they rang the original Liberty Bell,” education director Polly Brasher said.

The bell was struck 13 times for each of the 13 original colonies, reminding those listening of the sacrifices of our forefathers.

“To know that might cost them their lives — and it did cost people their lives — and they were willing to do that, they were willing to do that not knowing anything about us today,” Brasher said.

According to historians, the Liberty Bell was originally rung on July 8, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was read throughout America.