Friday is of course Independence Day, but it’s also the birthday of President Calvin Coolidge, one of only two U.S. presidents born in Vermont.
For years the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation has held an event to honor the only president born on Independence Day.
Matt Denhart is the new executive director of the foundation, and it will be his first time at the celebration.
“I’ve heard so much about it. I just arrived in December, and have been looking forward to this since the day I set foot in the normally tranquil Plymouth Notch,” he said.
Large crowds are expected for the events, which begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday. A delegation of the Vermont National Guard will lead a march to the Plymouth Notch cemetery. A wreath from the White House will be placed on the president’s grave. Jennifer Sayles Harville, Coolidge’s great-granddaughter will sing the national anthem.
This year also marks the 90th anniversary of the passing of Calvin Coolidge, Jr. He died in 1924 while his father served as president, so children will help mark that event by placing a wreath on his grave.
Also this year, a group of invited readers and members of the public will read the entire autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Plymouth’s Union Christian Church.
“This is actually an old tradition. Back in 1998 the foundation sponsored a public reading of the autobiography on the 75th anniversary of the Coolidge inauguration, so we’re reviving that old tradition. We thought what a great idea to read this book aloud. It’s a beautiful autobiography, 247 pages, although the print is rather large and the margins quite big, so it’s doable to do in one day,” Denhart explained.
“This is his own book and so everything that he put in there I think he must have thought was important enough for other people to remember.”
More information about the events can be found on the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation’s website.
