In late June, 2011, I was wondering what else I could do besides voting, praying, writing, volunteering for and donating to like-minded candidates, running for office myself and flying the American and Gadsden flags above my home to promote God-fearing, life-revering, Constitution-loving conservatism.

It struck me to stand on the steps of our handsome little Ben Avon Borough Building at 8 o'clock on the morning of the Fourth of July and proclaim the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence.

So I did.

I drafted a brief introduction based on nuggets from Joseph Ellis’s audio book Patriots: Brotherhood of the American Revolution and alerted a few neighbors. In a white shirt and red bow tie, I read the Declaration to eight persons, including my wife and the police officer who had been on patrol when she and I walked our Airedale earlier that morning.

About 40 persons attended the reading in 2012, thanks to flyers stapled to the telephone poles on Church Avenue a week beforehand.

Last year with a boost from a $40 robocall to registered voters, the reading attracted about 100 persons. By then I had come across Michael Novak’s book On Two Wings: Humble Faith and Common Sense at the American Founding. I referenced the book liberally in my 2013 introduction.

With the approach of our fourth annual reading, I had a recurring pipe dream. How wonderful would it be if Michael Novak himself, the renowned author, philosopher and theologian, could be persuaded to come to Ben Avon and personally introduce the reading of the Declaration?

So I invited him. And he agreed to come. Imagine that.

Mr. Novak has also agreed to attend a community dinner on Thursday, July 3, at Shannopin Country Club in neighboring Ben Avon Heights and deliver remarks based on his authoritative understanding of the deep and abiding Christian faith of the Founding Fathers and the moral foundations of democratic capitalism.

Ben Avon is a small, old, leafy community of about 1,800 souls. We occupy less than one square mile of land beside the Ohio River, seven miles north of downtown Pittsburgh and about 70 miles west of Mr. Novak’s hometown, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 

In regard to the never-ending and these days seemingly perilous struggle to preserve the liberty established for us by the Founding Fathers and the patriots who followed them, Michael Novak coming to speak about the Declaration of Independence might just be one of the best things to happen in Ben Avon since Robert Bork grew up here.

Whatever else you might do to celebrate Independence Day, read the Declaration in public on the Fourth of July. Make good things happen.

Earl Bohn at [email protected] is a communications consultant and president of Ben Avon Borough Council.