By Tara Nugent[1]
The Northern District of New York organized elegant tributes to the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The celebrations took place on June 9 at the James T. Foley Courthouse in Albany, and on June 11 at the James M. Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse.
United States District and Magistrate Judges were joined by attorneys and community members, as well as high school students from Baldwinsville, Christian Brothers Academy, East Syracuse Minoa, and Fayetteville–Manlius, at NDNY’s celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary at the James M. Hanley Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in Syracuse.
The Syracuse event featured several speakers, including Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Wendy A. Kinsella, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz. “I can’t think of a better place to celebrate this historic milestone than in our federal courthouse,” said Chief Judge Sannes.
Chief Judges Sannes and Kinsella introduced the celebration, and welcomed guests and presenters. A Presentation of Honors was given by the Color Guard, comprised of veterans Norman J. Piraino, William Kelsey, Dan Delaney, and Paul Hrynio of the Town of Manlius Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7872.
Jesse Tenorio graced the celebration with a performance of the National Anthem and other patriotic songs throughout the tribute.
A pertinent excerpt of the Declaration of Independence was read aloud by 14 different community members, many dressed in patriotic clothing. One of those speakers was Erin Gurdak, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a non-profit organization that promotes historic preservation and patriotism. Gurdak’s fifth great-grandfather was William Floyd, who was among the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Robert J. Searing, a curator of history at the Onondaga Historical Association, addressed the significance of New York’s role in the signing of the Declaration. “This document stands as a testament to the struggle, to the legality, and to the attempts by the American revolutionaries to continually justify what they are doing through the law,” Searing said, referring to the Courthouse as “a perfect place to be reminded of that.”
In Albany, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino hosted the 250th Anniversary event in the Ceremonial Courtroom. The event featured judges and attorneys dressed in historical garb and portraying founding fathers and mothers, including Abigail Adams (Courtroom Deputy Tara Burtt), John Adams (Reece Napierski), Benjamin Franklin (Rick Belliss), Patrick Henry (U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista), and Thomas Jefferson (Julie Nociolo). U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patrick G. Radel gave a spirited performance as King George.
At the end of the Albany event, Judge D’Agostino asked everyone in attendance to join in a reading of an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. Members of the La Salle Institute JROTC Senior Army presented the color guard, and violinist Georgia Burtt performed the National Anthem and other patriotic pieces.
[1] Tara Nugent is a University of Maryland student interning in Judge Glenn T. Suddaby’s chambers this summer.