Newton celebrated the nation's 250th anniversary by bringing one of America's most important documents to life.

About 80 residents, elected officials and city staff gathered in City Hall's War Memorial Auditorium on July 8 for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, with community leaders taking turns reading the historic text.

Mayor Marc Laredo, State Reps. Amy Mah Sangiolo and Greg Schwartz, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, and City Council President John Oliver all participated.

“One of the beauties of a document like the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution is that they can be understood in a different way 250 years later,” Laredo said.

The ceremony also highlighted Newton's own Revolutionary War history. In June 1776, town residents voted unanimously to support the colonies' fight for independence "with their lives and fortunes" if Congress declared independence.

The event opened with a Newton Police and Fire color guard, while incoming Newton North freshman Kaitlyn Morra performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and later closed the ceremony with "America the Beautiful."

Attendees also got a close look at a historically accurate replica of the Declaration of Independence, one of 351 distributed to Massachusetts communities as part of the anniversary celebration.

Ward 6 Councilor Lisa Gordon said the reading resonated with her role in local government.

"I am serving in City government, and I feel like this is an incredibly important document in civil life," Gordon said.

A recording of the ceremony is available on NewTV's YouTube channel.