WBZ-TV's Lisa Hughes named orator for Independence Day celebration 2015

"Each year we select a speaker who embodies America's spirit of freedom and who celebrates equality and justice for all people," said Mayor Walsh. "Given her extraordinary career and the leadership she has shown for our Commonwealth, we are happy to welcome Lisa as this year's orator."

Hughes will join a distinguished and diverse list of orators for the ceremony, which dates back to 1773. Past orators include: John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, Horace Mann, Keith Lockhart and Julia Child. For a complete list of orators, please see attached document.

"I am beyond thrilled and honored to have been selected as this year's speaker," said Hughes. "I am proud to be among those who have orated this historic occasion and celebration before me."

Hughes joined WBZ in June 2000. In 2014, Hughes received both a Columbia DuPont Award as well as a 2013 George Foster Peabody Award as part of WBZ-TV's team coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings. In 2008 Lisa received an Emmy Award for On-Camera Talent Reporter. In 2007, Lisa won a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her at-home interviews with the candidates running for governor. Lisa was an Emmy Award nominee in 2000 for News Anchoring and received an Emmy Award for Hard News Story in 1996.

In addition to the oration, the City of Boston's Independence Day Celebration schedule is as follows:

All times shown are approximate and are subject to change. 

9:00AM - Official celebration begins at City Hall Plaza with a flag raising ceremony led by Mayor Walsh.

9:20AM - The marching units and dignitaries assemble and process from City Hall Plaza to Tremont Street. 

9:30AM - The procession halts at the Old Granary Burial Ground where Sam Adams, John Hancock, Peter Faneuil and Robert Treat Paine are honored, and then continues to Bromfield Street to Washington Street to the Old State House.

9:40AM - The Declaration of Independence is read by Captain Commanding Domenic Previte of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company at the Old State House balcony, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians in 1776, by a member of the Ancients.

10:00AM- Procession reforms from Congress Street to North Street and ends at Faneuil Hall.

10:15AM - Patriotic Exercises being at Faneuil Hall, including remarks from Mayor Walsh, oration by WBZ-TV's Lisa Hughes and Patriotic Musical Selections.

The Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment is committed to producing fun, free, public, family-friendly events for the people of Boston and visitors to enjoy.

For more information, please call 617-635-3911, visit boston.gov/summer, or check out @VisitBoston on Twitter. City Hall Plaza is accessible by MBTA via Haymarket (Orange and Green), State Street (Orange and Blue) or Park Street (Green and Red).