Rochester rings in America's 250th anniversary
Andy Hammerman, left, and Michelle Kirby ring bells outside Rochester Town Hall. Photos by Grace Roche
People could bring their own bells or take some available at the event. 
Christmas bells weren't out of the question at the patriotic celebration. 
The bell ringing lasted two minutes. 
Town Administrator Cameron Durant joined the celebration. 
Attendees in patriotic garb ring bells at the Rochester event. 
Attendees line up for free food. 
State Rep. Mark Silvia attended the celebration.
Andy Hammerman, left, and Michelle Kirby ring bells outside Rochester Town Hall. Photos by Grace Roche
People could bring their own bells or take some available at the event.
Christmas bells weren't out of the question at the patriotic celebration.
The bell ringing lasted two minutes.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant joined the celebration.
Attendees in patriotic garb ring bells at the Rochester event.
Attendees line up for free food.
State Rep. Mark Silvia attended the celebration.
ROCHESTER — As the clock struck noon on Independence Day, the sound of bells rang through Rochester’s town center.
People gathered on the lawn outside Town Hall on Saturday, July 4 to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary and participate in a nationwide ringing of bells.
As two minutes of exuberant ringing concluded, state Rep. Mark Silvia spoke to the crowd about the “truly revolutionary” creation of America.
He said signing the Declaration of Independence was an act of treason and each person who put their name on the document was risking their life.
“Think about the heroism in that — 250 years ago the penalty was death,” Silvia said. “‘Lives, fortunes, and sacred honor’ was not a rhetorical flourish. It was a literal accounting of what each man at the table was putting forth when he picked up the pen to sign the Declaration of Independence.”
Michelle Kirby and Andy Hammerman, who split their time between their home in Rochester and Ecuador, attended the celebration decked in patriotic accessories and accompanied by their tandem bike.
Kirby, who grew up in Rochester, said she remembers the town holding a huge parade for the bicentennial, and while this year’s celebration was much smaller it was still significant to celebrate freedom alongside the community.
Hammerman said the day was about "celebrating our independence and also freedom, and trying to get that for everybody, because there's a lot of work to be done still.”
Volunteers such as 14-year-old Carlton Veeder handed out free hot dogs and popcorn to attendees. The boy scout said he wished the day was cooler and more people had showed up, but he enjoyed helping out at the event.
“I just like to help out the community and be involved with the community, and it's always fun to be out here,” Veeder said. “We're giving this (food) away, so it's nice to see other people smile.”
