ALTON - The Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a program Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Lincoln-Douglas Square in Downtown Alton to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and reflect on its significance.“While July 4th marks the birth of our independence, July 8th was the day the people first heard the words that would change the world,” said Richard Ruedin, past president of the Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of the ...