Put-in-Bay to Host National Signing Ceremony Honoring America’s “True Signing Day”
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Put-in-Bay is poised to take center stage in a national commemoration. On August 2, 2026, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial will host “Declaration 250,” a historic signing ceremony recognizing the day the Declaration of Independence was officially signed in 1776.
Organized by the Lake Erie Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Perry Group, the event will honor August 2 as “America’s signature moment.” While July 4 is widely celebrated as Independence Day, it was August 2, 1776, when 56 patriots put pen to parchment and made their personal pledge to liberty—an act considered high treason against the British Crown.
“July 4 declared our independence, but August 2 enacted it,” said David Zavagno, spokesperson for the Lake Erie Heritage Foundation. “There is no more fitting place than Perry’s Monument to gather, reflect, and recommit to the promise of the Declaration.”
The two-day celebration will include:
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Living history reenactments
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Keynote speakers and civic leaders
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Performances by The Ohio State University Marching Band
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Master of ceremonies Hugh Hewitt, nationally syndicated radio host
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A ceremonial signing by invited members of the U.S. Congress
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A fireworks display to close the event
Perry’s Monument, which honors the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, stands as a symbol of the nation’s resolve to preserve the freedoms declared in 1776. The upcoming celebration aims to connect that spirit of perseverance with today’s Americans.
“This is more than a re-signing celebration,” said Zavagno. “It is a reaffirmation of the ideals that forged our nation.”
Civic groups, veterans, schools, and historical organizations are encouraged to take part in what organizers describe as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reaffirm national unity and historical understanding.
The Lake Erie Heritage Foundation emphasizes Ohio’s deep connection to America’s legacy—home to eight U.S. presidents and the state that contributed more Union soldiers per capita during the Civil War than any other.
For more details or to get involved, visit lakeerieheritage.org.
Source: Press release by the Lake Erie Heritage Foundation via PR Newswire, July 30, 2025.
