Counting Down to Independence
As the Nation continues its multi-year commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners joined with the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department in Ocean County’s annual Countdown to Independence celebration. This year’s event, hosted on Nov. 20 in the Historic Court Room 1 of the Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River, highlighted the First Continental Congress, which first met in Philadelphia on Sept. 5, 1774. Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, who is liaison to the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, and also serves as the Regent of Joshua Huddy National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was joined by the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea, Deputy Director Gary Quinn and Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, as well as members of the New Jersey Society of Sons of the American Revolution, students from Toms River High School South and historical society members in recognizing the significance of the First Continental Congress in our nation’s history. The First Continental Congress was a deliberate assembly organized by American colonial governments to coordinate their resistance to British rule during the first two years of the American Revolution. Period music was provided throughout the program by Ministers of Apollo. In addition, the New Jersey Fifes and Drums and the First New Jersey Loyalists were in attendance.
