Gloucester’s Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church was once again the site for an annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, but the ceremony went well beyond reading the document. It celebrated the freedoms promised in the declaration with soaring music, patriotic poetry, a tribute to the armed forces, and a roll call of signers of the declaration. Gloucester supervisor Shannon Hanson, representing the Gloucester 250 Committee, spoke of honoring those who sacrificed to ensure freedom. She said that Gloucester had been a place of peace, farmlands, winding rivers and refuge for the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Page. Gloucester helped make history, she said, and “for 250 years, America has carried the experiment forward.” The things that make America, she said, are “peace, kindness to our neighbors, and a sense of community that welcomes newcomers.” She urged those present to “give thanks for the privilege of calling Gloucester home.” Pastor Jesse ...