.jpg%20America%20250&w=1920&q=75)
President Donald Trump kicked off official celebrations on Wednesday for America’s upcoming 250th birthday, headlining a rally marking the start of Semiquincentennial events across the US.
During his speech, Trump honored the “eternal truths” America’s Founding Fathers recognized in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago: that all people are “endowed by our creator” with the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“And you know that free and equal by the hand of Almighty God. Those timeless American principles did not just win a revolution, but they built us into the greatest, strongest, and most exceptional nation the world has ever known,” Trump added.
Trump’s “America Is Back” rally is the first in a lineup of festivities planned nationwide through July 4.
America 250: Great American State Fair
Today, June 25, is the opening day of the Great American State Fair, described by organizers as a “world-class exposition and modern-day World’s Fair celebrating the people, traditions, innovations, and spirit that make America the greatest nation on Earth.”
The event will feature over “150 exhibits from all 56 states and territories, businesses, innovators, and civic organizations,” showcasing “the very best of America.” The fair will also have a one-of-a-kind Semiquincentennial Ferris wheel on the National Mall, as well as unique industry displays, musical performances, movie events, family-friendly attractions, and military flyovers.
The Great American State Fair runs through July 10, with a different programming theme planned for each day, including Land & Prosperity; Military & Veterans Appreciation Day; Faith, Values, and Inspiration; Horsepower of America; Heritage & Legacy; and The Next 250.
The fair will be open to the public Sunday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
From Sea to Shining Sea
Official America 250 celebrations aren’t just taking place in Washington, DC. On July 1, Medora, North Dakota, will host the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, honoring the life and legacy of America’s 26th president. As one of America’s most influential conservationists, Roosevelt’s experiences in the North Dakota Badlands “helped shape both his character and his vision for the nation,” explained Freedom 250, the nonpartisan organization working behind the scenes on events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
On July 3, another tribute to America’s 250th birthday will take place in Keystone, South Dakota: “Against the backdrop of Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four transformative presidents stand as enduring symbols of freedom and self-government, Americans from across the country will gather to celebrate the courage, sacrifice, and vision that built the United States.” The “Rushmore 250” event will include military honors, family-friendly activities, and a fireworks display, which will illuminate the Black Hills.
Beginning July 4 and running through July 8, the “largest fleet of U.S. and international ships and aircraft” will gather in New York Harbor for an event dubbed the “International Naval Review & Sail 4th 250.” The historic event will showcase America’s “unrivaled maritime superiority, global leadership, and enduring partnerships through the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.”
The gathering will also feature “the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world, with vessels representing more than 20 nations creating a breathtaking nautical spectacle across New York Harbor.”
July 4 Salute to America
Back in Washington, DC, the “capstone of America’s 250th anniversary” will take place on July 4, with musical performances, never-before-seen aerobatic demonstrations, and flyovers, concluding with the “largest fireworks display in history.”
According to Freedom 250, 850,000 fireworks shells will be launched from nearly a dozen sites, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, eight Potomac River barges, and West Potomac Park.
From the looks of things, America’s 250th birthday celebrations will be one spectacular event after another – a series of well-deserved tributes to the greatest nation on Earth.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)