Though the sun blazed and the humid air virtually wrapped us in a wet blanket, could America's 250^th have been any better? In our little community alongside Breton Bay, children decorated their bikes, adults adorned their golf carts, and everyone marched to the beach where the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department doused us all from a water cannon atop one of the trucks. Everyone happily ate hot-dogs and kids braved the murky waters of the Bay.

If yours was anything like ours, family, friends, food, drinks, music, laughter, swimming, etc. etc. etc. ruled the day. And, of course, the evening was filled with fireworks - rumbling thunder and lightning shooting down from the sky followed by oohs and aahs as yet more fireworks were shot into the sky! 

About the only downer was the cancelation of Sunday's Music Under the Oaks on the lawn at Historic Tudor Hall. Bummer. We were ready to keep the celebrations going as long as we could. 

Let's do it again in 2076, shall we!

75^th Anniversary Celebration - Reservations Coming In Fast!

By now, all members of the Historical Society should have received invitations to our anniversary party: our 75^th!  Before they were even mailed, 160 reservations had been received.  As of today, close to 180 reservations are in. While The White Rose can handle many more guests than the Olde Breton Inn, we think this may well turn into a sell-out event. 

So, if you received your invitation, we have only one suggestion: don't wait. Mail it back to us soon!

You will find all information about the event on this page (there's a link there to the reservations page as well). Or, you can make online reservations directly at this link. If you prefer US Mail, a reservation form is attached below. Simply complete both sides and mail it to us at:

Speaking of Reservations

The 2026 Summer Social is Friday, July 31^st. Always a delight for members and their guests, this year will be no different.  

Membership Chair Susan Dyer and her excellent Committee, along with the generosity of the Historical Society Directors, have come together to prepare for yet another wonderful afternoon of small talk and large, gossip, laughter, and just being among good friends. 

Members will receive an invitation in the mail. And while reservations are not absolutely necessary they are very much encouraged (you wouldn't want us to run out of your favorite beverage, would you?). Click your way over to the information and RSVP page with this link and join us on the lawn - or in the parlor.

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Reading of The Declaration of Independence

Finally, as we end our celebrations of the 4^th, we often get so caught up with the food, fireworks, and fun that we pay only nodding attention to the deeper reasons why we celebrate America's Independence and our Declaration of Independence. 

We were delighted, therefore, to be asked as the Historical Society to be one of several readers of the Declaration of Independence this evening, Wednesday, July 8th, at 6:00pm on the lawn in front of the Potomac Building at the County Governmental Center. It's an occasion to remind ourselves that ours is truly a unique nation.

In a speech some years back, I remarked, "America is the only nation in the history of mankind born, not from a single culture or language, not from a clan or a creed, but from an idea: Liberty. A belief in the dignity of each individual, in freedom, and in the equality of all men and women under God and under Law." 

It is good to remind ourselves of these things from time to time: of our nation's founding in Liberty, which - despite our shortcomings and the turbulence and challenges from without and from within - distinguishes America and ourselves. 

 

Not a member of the Historical Society!  How about becoming one? We're not only about history. . .
A Membership Form is attached below.