Officials, reenactors gather to celebrate first public reading of Declaration of Independence in Berks County

READING, Pa. - The sound of history reverberated through the Berks County Services Center in Reading Monday.

Officials and reenactors gathered in front of the Berks County Liberty Bell to celebrate the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The event marked the first public reading of the Declaration in Berks County and the ringing of the Liberty Bell on July 8th, 1776.

"We are here today because of what happened in Philadelphia 248 years ago, July 2nd or 3rd, the fourth is when it ended up getting dated and that's why we celebrate the 4th, but here, we're celebrating July the 8th," said Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach.

Leinbach says the bell was originally housed at the old Berks County Courthouse on Fifth and Penn streets.