Celebrations honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence are officially underway in Berks County.
America250PA, a statewide campaign devoted to celebrating that milestone, held a kickoff event Friday in the lobby of the Berks County Services Center in downtown Reading with a number of local dignitaries in attendance to mark the occasion.
The county commissioners — Christian Leinbach, Dante Santoni Jr. and Michael Rivera — were joined by state Reps. Eric Weaknecht, Mark Gillen and Jacklyn Rusnock as well as Reading City Council President Donna Reed at the ceremony.
The purpose of the ceremony was to highlight the county’s unique history, local partnerships and its role in the celebration.
Guests display signs with Berks County’s Liberty Bell for America 250PA following an America 250PA Kickoff event on Friday at the Berks County Services Center. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)