Stephanie Phillips reads Martin Luther King Jr. at Stratford event marking "America's 250"

Stephanie Phillips read excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.'s June 6, 1961 remarks at a Stratford program that organizers described as marking "America's 250." After the reading, she introduced herself, saying she was "very proud to be one of Stratford's patriots" taking part in the event.

The reading included the lines: "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, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Phillips attributed the passage to Martin Luther King Jr., citing the date June 6, 1961.

The program combined an invocation of King’s language about equality with local remarks by participants. After the reading, Phillips said, "My name is Stephanie Phillips and I am very proud to be one of Stratford's patriots celebrating America's 250. Thank you." The transcript spells the local name as "Straford" in one line; this article uses the verified local spelling "Stratford."

No formal actions, motions, or votes were recorded in the available transcript. The event's date, sponsoring organization, and broader agenda were not specified in the excerpt.