Neighbor News
SMJC Float at the Philadelphia 250th Anniversary celebration
Despite the parade being cancelled, the Float pressed forward and served an eager audience
Extremely hot weather in Philadelphia on July 3, 2026, resulted in organizers cancelling the National Independence Day parade for the safety of participants. A float owned by Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter Compatriot Warner Workman was about half-way to Philadelphia when he received word of the cancellation. Compatriots Workman, and passenger Van Deusen, decided to continue to Philadelphia to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our great nation.
With the float in tow, the team arrived near Independence Hall and setup the float for display.They erected eight flags representing various aspects of the Revolution, attached hanging patriotic graphics, configured a 1/3 size liberty bell with clapper and affixed the Statue of Liberty with arm and crown.They also placed a large-scale unsigned Declaration of Independence on a desk on the float and provided quill pens for signatures. By the time they completed making the float ready a line of visitors had assembled to view the float.
Not hearing the parade had been cancelled, visitors represented both Philadelphia residents and travelers who had come to Philadelphia to see the parade. All visitors were hungry to celebrate the anniversary of our country, and eager to express their patriotism. From about 8am in the morning until early afternoon a steady line of visitors signed the Declaration of Independence, rang the Liberty Bell and climbed onto the float for photo opportunities. Both Workman and Van Deusen, dressed in Revolutionary War militia attire, provided a backdrop for visitor photographs. At the end of the day, two copies of the Declaration of Independence had been completely filled with signatures.
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Two reporters from Philadelphia television station channel 6, WPVI-TV, interviewed Compatriot Workman and captured video of visitors signing the Declaration of Independence and Ringing the Liberty Bell.
The Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter was selected as Best Medium Sized Chapter in Virginia SAR for 2025. The chapter serves Loudoun County and parts of surrounding counties. For more information on the Chapter please visit our website at: https://johnchampe-sar.org
