The 16th annual Heritage Day program will start with a parade down Orient’s Village Lane; followed by a welcome and invocation at the Old Point Schoolhouse; the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance; “God Bless America” sung by Franklin Mastrangelo; the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Oysterponds stalwarts; after which there’ll be hot dogs, sweets, music, and fun kids’ games in nearby Poquatuck Park.
The history of Heritage Day: in the 19th century Oysterponds native-son Augustus Griffin began a tradition of the reading of the Declaration of Independence every July 4th. Many years later, that simple ceremony has grown into Heritage Day—an annual opportunity to fully acknowledge the innumerable generations of Oysterponders who came before us—starting with those who first settled the East End over 17,000 years ago.
Oysterponds Historical Society celebrates all of Oysterponds history—the people and the lives they lived and the artifacts and stories that have been handed down to us in the 21st century.
