Almost 250 Years of the USA
As we look forward to commemorating 250 years of our country’s existence in 2026, we should count among our many blessings that our forefathers realized the many challenges a Republic could face and had the courage to create a document that would stand the test of time – today as it did back then.
The noise of an unsettled world permeated the air as it has many times since, but the commitment and strength of will to establish a unique yet fair form of government that could stand on its own merits was the driving force behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, 1776, our independence was declared by the Second Continental Congress to set up a Republic that selects its government through a democratic process. While a republic is generally defined as a system of government whose powers are restrained by charter or constitution, often to protect the rights of individuals, a democracy instead is governed by the wishes of the majority, with no protection for individuals in a minority.
The democratic process we pursue, while at times a bit unwieldy, continues to deliver.
As the Republic of the United States of America – we stand as one people, one nation, one entity – united with liberty and justice for all.
This year, President Donald J. Trump launched the Salute to America 250 Task Force – a year-long celebration of the signing of our Declaration of Independence that launched on Memorial Day 2025 and will continue through July 4, 2026.
This initiative not only reflects “on our past, but it also encompasses the contributions of individuals who built this country, the innovations that put this country on the map and a man on the moon, and imagining what the next 250 years might look like for our children and the generations to come,” wrote Rosie Rios, chair of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
On June 14, 2025, the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade will occur on Constitution Avenue Northwest between 15th and 23rd streets in Washington, D.C. – the first of many celebrations planned across our 50 states.
Locally, we have many celebrations this July 4th – one year shy of the two and a half centuries of our country’s existence. It is an opportunity to create family traditions and to teach our younger generations about the importance of celebrating the many wonderful freedoms we have in this country. Once again, my family will watch 1776, an inspiring musical which depicts the deliberations leading up to our Declaration of Independence, and The Patriot, based on the Revolutionary war hero known as The Swamp Fox.
