To celebrate our country's independence, a crowd gathered at Homer Congregational Church Wednesday to hear the words that fueled a revolution. Tamara Lindstrom has reaction from people who took turns reading the Declaration of Independence.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

HOMER, N.Y. -- It was a statement that rallied a newly formed country to arms, fighting for independence.

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..."

More than 200 years later, a crowd gathers to read the stirring words.

"I'm here today because I believe we should be more aware of what our forefathers went through to make this a great country," Cortland resident Dorothy Green said.

"It reminds you of the power of the document when you read that they really are putting their lives on the line by signing this," organizer Chip Jermy said.

"If they were caught, they would be killed for treason. They risked everything for us," attendee Christine Heath.

But it's more than just a battle cry.

"The document was based on some logic. Because it explained very clearly the reasons behind the independence," attendee Massimiliano Sfragara said.

The document is not just a declaration of independence, but the founding fathers were explaining why they wanted independence when they wrote 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...

"...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"All experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable..."

Jermy said, "It makes you think more about what independence and freedom is all about."

"Is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

And centuries-old words find fresh meaning to new ears.

"And that's the part that actually says we are free and independent and we can do what we think is best for ourselves," said organizer Charles Jermy.