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Cricket and Declare Yourself Present the Declaration of Independence Aboard San Diego's USS Midway Museum on the Fourth of July
SAN DIEGO --(Business Wire)-- Cricket Communications, Inc, a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, will offer San Diegans the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence this Fourth of July, aboard the USS Midway Museum. The document is one of only 25 remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence created on the evening of July 4, 1776, and is a symbol of democracy that is just as powerful more than 200 years after its creation.
The Declaration of Independence will be on public display aboard the Midway Museum throughout the day, then again that evening when the Museum reopens for its annual "A Celebration of America" event with MAGIC 92.5. To commemorate the birthday of America and the presence of our nation's most prized possession, Cricket and Declare Yourself are also planning a major entertainment show prior to the Big Bay Fireworks Show, which will feature celebrity performances and a special program to honor US Veterans in cooperation with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran's Association of America.
In partnership with Declare Yourself, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that energizes and empowers young Americans to register and vote in the 2008 presidential election, the Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008 is currently touring the country to provide visitors in 14 cities the opportunity to interact with this historical document through an entertaining and educational multimedia exhibit. The historic document on tour belongs to Declare Yourself Founder and Producer Norman Lear. Lear purchased the Declaration of Independence at an auction after it was discovered in 1989, hidden behind a framed painting purchased at a flea market.
"We are honored to partner with Declare Yourself to bring such an amazing national treasure to San Diego, and to be able to support our strong military community on the Fourth of July," said Doug Hutcheson, president and CEO of Cricket. "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see American history up close. Nearly half of Cricket's customers are between the ages of 18 and 34, which means that many will be first-time voters in this election. We felt this was an important initiative to embrace and help our city's youth understand the importance of independence, freedom and the right to vote."
"Midway is becoming our nation's West Coast symbol of American strength, freedom, and peace," said Midway president and CEO, Mac McLaughlin. "It is especially appropriate that an original copy of our Declaration of Independence will be exhibited aboard the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century on our nation's 232nd birthday."
Additional Highlights of the Event:
-- Special program to honor US veterans, with video diaries from young veterans who recently served overseas.
-- Informative Declare Yourself video hosted by Reese Witherspoon, a descendant of one of the original signers of the document, explaining the history and contemporary relevance of the Declaration.
-- Short film produced by Norman Lear and Rob Reiner, featuring a powerful theatrical reading of the Declaration of Independence by a distinguished group of actors, including Mel Gibson, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Spacey, Michael Douglas, and Renee Zellweger, among others.
DETAILS:
The USS Midway Museum will open early at 9:00 a.m. on July 4. Regular admission prices apply. "A Celebration of America" begins that evening at 6 p.m. Tickets are limited and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets go on sale June 12 at www.midway.org and at the Midway ticket booth (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily).
In September 2007, Declare Yourself announced Cricket as its presenting sponsor of the 2007-2008 voter registration campaign. Cricket's sponsorship underscores Declare Yourself's commitment to using cutting-edge technology to create awareness and participation among today's youth in the voting process. Cricket is collaborating with Declare Yourself to create unique mobile and online content, and wireless applications for young people to engage in the democratic process via their handheld devices.
For more information about the Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008, visit www.mycricket/sandiego.com. For more information on the Declare Yourself 2008 voter initiative, visit www.declareyourself.com.
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devices and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket services are offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.
About Declare Yourself
Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that energizes and empowers every eligible 18- to 29-year-old in America to register and vote in the 2008 presidential election. Partnering with leaders in education, the entertainment industry, popular online destinations and media outlets, the fashion industry and retailers, Declare Yourself registered more than 1.2 million people in the 2004 and 2006 elections at www.DeclareYourself.com. DY has registered almost a half million young people so far in the 2008 campaign. The nonprofit, founded by Norman Lear, was launched in 2003 as the culmination of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a nationwide multi-media exhibit and tour of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
About the USS Midway Museum
After opening as a museum in 2004, Midway has become the most-visited floating ship museum in the United Sates. It was the first museum to receive the Preserve America Presidential Award. In addition to daily operations, it hosts nearly 300 private events a year. More than 30,000 students participate in its K-12 education programs. In addition, youth groups participate in a popular sleepover program. The USS Midway was America's longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, 1945-1992.
About Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Founded in June 2004, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.
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