"Give William Penn The Respect He Deserves Party" Debuts Oct. 14 at Philadelphia's Welcome Park

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Believing that William Penn, Quaker founder of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, has been ignored and overlooked far too long, the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) is taking steps to restore his reputation.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150929/271860

As a start, the APT will host a 30-minute ceremony highlighting William Penn's considerable accomplishments at Welcome Park. It's on the east side of 2nd Street above Walnut Street in Philadelphia, diagonally across from City Tavern. 

The "Give William Penn The Respect He Deserves Party" – a Philly-style Gratitude with Attitude celebration – begins 6 p.m. Wednesday,  October 14, 2015 – on Penn's 371st birthday.

Fittingly, members of the Quaker City String Band will honor the former Quaker leader with 30 minutes of music starting at 5:30 p.m.

The official program will take place rain or shine from 6 - 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited.

"We're hoping local community groups will come out in force to honor William Penn for all he did for our city and have some fun," says Jim Murphy, an APT member who helped spearhead the event.

The program includes:

• Opening remarks by APT President Bob Skiba.
• A brief history of Welcome Park, the Wampum Land Site where Indians stayed while they were in the city, and of Hannah Penn by Harry Kyriakodis, author of three books on Philadelphia.
• Reading of "Top 10 Reasons We Celebrate William Penn's Life" by area tour guides. These will include the fact that Philly quickly outgrew New York and Boston to become the second-largest English-speaking city in the world.
• And finally, the ringing of over 70 green bells in unison by attendees for one full minute. The bells symbolize both Penn's "Greene Countrie Towne" of Philadelphia, and his connection to the Liberty Bell – which was ordered by the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges.

In addition:

• Noted William Penn re-enactor Thomas R. Smith will be available for selfies with our city's founder.
• Certified tour guides from APT will be present to answer questions 

About the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT)

Founded in 2008, The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) provides extensive training opportunities for professional and volunteer tour guides.

APT also acts as a voice for 200+ members and helps promote a high-quality tourist experience for Philadelphia visitors.

As part of its continuing education efforts, APT has:

• Developed an APT Tour Guide Certification Program and Examination. To date, more than 100 guides have been certified. A Master Guide program is also underway.

• Produced "The APT Tour Guide Handbook," a 270-page bible for both new and experienced guides.

• Developed and organized five free "Annual Great River to River, Vine to Pine, Rain or Shine Walking Tours of Philadelphia."

• Received a special citation from the City of Philadelphia in 2013, honoring the association for its efforts to enhance visitors' experiences in Philadelphia.

Contact: Jim Murphy
610-506-3024
Email

SOURCE Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides