To the Editor:
On behalf of the Christmas Town America 250 Planning Committee, we express our heartfelt thanks to all who made the July 4th, 2026, celebration of our nation’s founding a fantastic day.
The committee began working over two years ago. Our first event was a re-enactment of Paul Revere’s famous ride in April 2025. A seven-part speaker series, “How Does America’s Democracy Work?,” was launched in September 2025 as a way to educate citizens about our great self-governing experiment.
The culminating July 4th event was an all-day affair that began with an ecumenical service at First Church and was followed by a photo show, “America Through the Eyes of Bethlehem,” in Memorial Hall. The parade stepped off at 3 p.m. sharp under sunny skies, despite a forecast of thunderstorms. A tremendous effort was put into the parade by the float makers, marching bands, community organizations, and children on decorated bikes. Thanks to all who participated with great enthusiasm.
Our gratitude goes to the special guests who participated in the ceremonies on the Town Green: Congressional Representative Jahana Hayes (5th District), who presented a proclamation to Bethlehem to mark this celebratory day; State Representative Karen Reddington-Hughes (32nd District); and television and film star Christine Baranski, who led the reading of the Declaration of Independence to an enthralled crowd.
The spectacular fireworks, delayed until Sunday night, were the perfect ending to a memorable celebration.
Everything came off without a hitch due to the support of our local constables and Resident State Trooper, along with meticulous planning and execution of the day by our safety and security committee, and the help of many volunteers.
A special thanks to Voices for coverage of our events, including a photo spread afterward. Your support played an important part in the success of our America 250 events.
Sincerely,
Ray Butkus
George Rehkamp
Co-chairs, America 250
Christmas Town