Baker County Residents Read Declaration of Independence in 250th Tribute Video

Crossroads Carnegie Art Center premiered a 6-minute video titled "Voices of Baker County: We Mutually Pledge" at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, featuring nearly 20 local residents reading lines from the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. The piece went live on Crossroads’ Facebook and Instagram accounts and on the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center YouTube channel.

Filmed across Baker County, production took place in October, November and December 2025 and January 2026, with audio readings overlaid on visual portraits of participants and county landscapes. DDRC Marketing of La Grande oversaw the project and Colten Alldredge served as creative and technical leader, guiding the intercut footage and sound design for the short community tribute.

Named participants represent a cross section of Baker County civic life and culture: Barry Murphy, City Manager for the City of Baker City; Fred Warner of Friends of Baker Heritage Museum; Cammy Warner of the Baker County Museum Commission; Courtney Warner Crowell of Regional Strategies Solutions; students Hazel and Hattie Crowell from South Baker and Brooklyn; Brian and Corrine Vegter affiliated with Churchill School, artists, and KBZR radio DJ; Cameron Diacetis, firefighter/EMT with the Baker City Fire Department; Joyce Hunsaker, historical interpreter and author; Dave Hunsaker of the Baker County Museum Commission; and Eva Henes, co-owner of Old Souls Farm. Those named are part of the nearly 20 residents who participated in readings.

Organizers acknowledged local and state support in assembling the project. "We thank the Braemar Charitable Trust and the Oregon 250 Commission, all the participants for their dedication to this process, and DDRC Marketing for their vision and support," Savage said. "The project shows that art can be a powerful tool for reflection and connection, and this video highlights the beauty of Baker County’s landscape," she said. "By inviting community members to participate, the Declaration of Independence becomes more accessible to everyone."

The video is part of the United States' 250th-anniversary commemorations and was produced by Crossroads Carnegie Art Center to spotlight the Declaration of Independence through local voices and scenery. The combination of readings from the founding text with imagery of Baker County aims to make the words more immediate for residents, from students in South Baker and Brooklyn to public servants at Baker City Fire Department and museum commissioners.

The 6-minute community piece premiered Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. on Crossroads’ social channels and on the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center YouTube channel, where viewers can watch the countywide readings and the landscapes captured during the October 2025 to January 2026 filming schedule.