The fourth annual reading of the Declaration of Independence was forced indoors due to inclement weather July 4 with 10 area officials reading the document in Bethlehem's Town Hall.

Bethlehem Attorney Thomas Carroll provided an introduction and concluding remarks, and State Rep. Steve Samuelson, E-135th, Dr. Christine Bongiorno, Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart, Lehigh County Sheriff candidate Joe Hanna, Bethlehem City Council candidate Michael Colon, Northampton County Councilman Hayden Phillips, Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez, Northampton County Council candidate Matthew Dietz, Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio and Dean Browning read from the document created by Thomas Jefferson, which declared the United States of America's independence from England July 4, 1776.

Jean Beauchner, Terry Geiger and Donna Rovito provided vocal accompaniment on the national anthem and "America the Beautiful."