Veterans Let Freedom Ring at Bell Ceremony

Walter Davis can trace his lineage to a great-great-grandfather and a great-great-great-grandfather who fought in America’s Revolutionary Army and helped boot the British back across the Atlantic after the fledgling nation won its independence.

So Davis, a World War II veteran and member of the Sons of the American Revolution, dressed himself up as a Revolutionary War soldier Tuesday morning to preside over a bell-ringing ceremony marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence 219 years ago.

The Santa Ana ceremony was part of Let Freedom Ring, a program that encourages groups nationwide to honor the nation’s birthday by ringing a bell at 2 p.m. Eastern time, or 11 a.m. on the West Coast. Last year, more than 2,000 ceremonies were held coast to coast.

At American Legion Post 131, about a dozen veterans and twice as many family members attended the local observance, many saying it was a bit more patriotic than spending a day at the beach.

“You can go to the beach any day,” said Stephanie Rundquist, a 42-year-old Army veteran and the only woman taking part in Tuesday’s ceremony. “But we don’t take our roots and our country seriously enough.”

Standing behind a podium in the Grand Avenue Legion Hall, Davis sported a white wig with two curls, which, he explained, designated an officer in George Washington’s Revolutionary Army.

Davis also wore tan knickers, a tan vest with brass buttons and a blue coat with tan trim.

“Washington didn’t like red,” said Davis, a 70-year-old retired insurance agent, because it was the color favored by the red-coated British regulars.

Rounding out Davis’ costume were black buckle shoes and a sword hanging at his left side.

Davis, whose costume cost more than $400, conceded that few in Washington’s army could afford to dress so well.

“A lot were farmers and shopkeepers,” he said, “and brought their own guns.”

During the 25-minute ceremony, Davis and the other participants paid tribute to the early Americans who launched a rebellion against the British, declaring their independence from that island nation and risking “their lives and fortunes” by signing the historic document.

A small brass bell was tolled 13 times, once for each of the 13 colonies that formed the original United States. As Davis announced the numbers from one to 13, a veteran would stand up, name the corresponding state and strike the bell. Delaware was the first to formally join the union, in 1787; the last was Rhode Island, in 1790.

Representatives of all 13 colonies, however, had signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in what Davis described as “that hot room in Philadelphia.”

After the bell-ringing, Davis recounted the history of the Revolutionary era flags hanging on the American Legion post’s walls, from “Don’t Tread on Me,” with its trademark coiled snake, to the Betsy Ross flag, with its circle of 13 stars.

Later, Davis encouraged audience members to sign a petition supporting a constitutional amendment that would make it a crime to desecrate the American flag.

The ceremony drew to a close outside the Legion Hall with veterans raising the flag as a tape-recorded bugler played “To the Colors.” As the flag slowly rose past a window bearing a neon beer sign, the veterans and others saluted.

“I think all too often we don’t realize what holidays are about,” said Post 131 Commander Manuel Vizinho. “It’s still nice to have some people try to remember what the Fourth of July is all about.”