Content by: Wendy Busse-Coleman | Blog | 2 Minute Read | June 15, 2026
Two hundred and fifty years.
A quarter of a millennium since a group of imperfect but determined human beings declared that freedom was worth the risk, worth the sacrifice, worth the fight.
This anniversary isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s like a little mirror reflecting back at us.
It makes us think about who we are, what we’ve picked up along the way, and if we still believe in that awesome promise that kicked off this country: that every person has their own worth, and that freedom isn’t something the government hands out, but a right we all carry with us.
It is regrettable to witness states, organizations, and individuals distancing themselves from this significant occasion. This event, thoughtfully orchestrated by the President of the United States, underscores his deep commitment to the nation.
This milestone is not merely a cause for uncritical celebration; rather, it represents a shared achievement belonging to all citizens. Every state, every community, every generation, and every narrative contribute to the rich tapestry of this country.
The 250th anniversary isn't about politics.
It's about continuity.
It's about gratitude.
It's about responsibility.
It's a chance to honor the people who built, bled, dreamed, and demanded better, and to recommit ourselves to the work they left unfinished.
Every state should be participating because every state has contributed to the American story.
Every state has heroes and heartbreaks.
Every state has chapters worth remembering and lessons worth carrying forward.
And every state has people who still believe in the idea of America, even when we disagree on what that looks like.
As George Washington reminded us, "the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty...is finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people."
- George Washington, First Inaugural Address, 1789
That experiment didn't belong to one colony then, and it doesn't belong to one state now. It belongs to all of us which is why this 250th anniversary matters so deeply.
This anniversary is not a celebration of perfection. It's a celebration of perseverance.
We don't honor 250 years because everything has gone right. We honor it because, through everything, we have kept trying to build a nation worthy of the words we teach our children:
liberty and justice for all.
If we can't come together for that, for the very idea that binds us, then we risk forgetting what makes this country extraordinary in the first place.
And I refuse to let that happen quietly.
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