Chehalis attorney J. Vander Stoep delivered a compelling presentation on the significance of the Declaration of Independence at the St. Helens Club on Wednesday. This event, held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis, is part of the club’s lecture series celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Vander Stoep, a graduate of W.F. West High School, Western Washington University, and the University of Washington School of Law, emphasized the enduring relevance of the Declaration, particularly in light of the historical context established by Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.
Susan Remund introduced Vander Stoep, highlighting his accomplishments, including becoming the youngest individual elected to the Washington state House of Representatives at just 23 years old in 1980. Remund noted her family’s long-standing tradition of hosting a Fourth of July fireworks show, during which Vander Stoep has recited the Declaration from memory for over three decades. “The crowd just loves it,” she remarked, adding that many attendees express gratitude for his annual recitation.
The audience at the Remund’s event has grown significantly, from around 40 to over a thousand participants. Vander Stoep shared that, despite the large crowd, “when I start to recite that thing, the place goes dead quiet, and it’s really a remarkable moment.” He attributed this collective stillness not to his performance but to the profound connection Americans feel toward the Declaration.
Vander Stoep reflected on the importance of the St. Helens Club to his family, particularly his late mother, Suzi Vander Stoep, who diligently prepared for her lectures. He compared the Declaration to the Ten Commandments, asserting that it serves as a moral compass for society. “I believe that is the most consequential human document written in the last 250 years,” he stated, noting its global influence beyond religious texts.
He described the Declaration as a “North Star,” guiding societal values and aspirations. “It sets a marker that our human society will never perfectly obtain but are always, hopefully as Americans, aiming toward it,” he added. The principles of equality and inalienable rights articulated in the Declaration have resonated worldwide, even influencing nations like the former Soviet Union, despite their historical adherence to these ideals.
Vander Stoep addressed contemporary issues related to immigration, questioning the rights of individuals facing deportation. “They are human beings with inalienable rights as human beings,” he stated. This tension, he explained, highlights the ongoing relevance of the Declaration’s principles in contemporary debates about right and wrong.
“I’m just pointing that out as a very real, very present example of how the Declaration of Independence challenges us and makes us think differently as Americans,” he said. He believes that, 250 years later, the promise of equal rights continues to provoke thought and discussion.
Vander Stoep characterized the United States as “the most diverse nation on earth,” attributing this diversity and the opportunities available to its citizens to the Declaration of Independence. He traced the history of the Declaration back to June 7, 1776, when Richard Henry Lee introduced the Lee Resolution to the Second Continental Congress, calling for independence from British rule.
This resolution, rather than the later Declaration drafted by Thomas Jefferson and others, initially galvanized support for independence throughout the colonies. Following the introduction of the Lee Resolution, a committee of five, including Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, drafted the official Declaration of Independence.
Vander Stoep clarified the common misconception surrounding the signing of the Declaration, stating that although a famous painting depicts Jefferson presenting the document on July 4, 1776, it was not signed until late August of that year. The significance of the Declaration diminished as the Articles of Confederation were established in 1777 and the Constitution was ratified in 1788, ultimately becoming the supreme law of the land.
Despite its foundational role in American governance, the Constitution did not directly address the issues of slavery, leading to significant conflict and the eventual outbreak of the Civil War. Vander Stoep noted that Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg reframed the Declaration’s significance, transforming it into a centerpiece of American identity.
In November 1863, the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery attracted thousands, including former Massachusetts Governor Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours before Lincoln delivered his brief but powerful remarks. Vander Stoep emphasized Lincoln’s choice of words, which reflected the historical and moral weight of the nation’s founding principles. “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” Lincoln famously stated.
Vander Stoep argued that Lincoln’s address elevated the Declaration, giving it renewed significance. “Mr. Lincoln uttering those words at Gettysburg created the meaning of the Declaration of Independence that we as a nation share, and he changed it at Gettysburg in a very powerful way,” he remarked.
Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Vander Stoep reflected on the Declaration’s ideals, noting that the nation’s founders would be astonished by the progress made toward universal rights. He concluded with a hopeful message, asserting, “There’s more work to be done in America, but on the Fourth of July, we can remember that the American path has always been moving slowly upward toward more freedom and opportunity.” Vander Stoep expressed his pride in being American, emphasizing the ongoing journey toward the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
