America has much to celebrate this year: It has been 250 years since the founding of our nation.
During the next few months, and throughout the rest of the year, we will celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of our Founding Fathers and the people of this nation, their achievements to create a new government, and to keep it.
As citizens, it matters little whether we descend from the courageous people that traveled across the sea on the Mayflower or whether we’re first-generation Americans. We should all look back and honor those who came before us and teach future generations, our children and grandchildren, the meaning of liberty and the rights that we all enjoy.
Last week, my wife and I attended a concert at Abravanel Hall, where we heard the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, a group that is entering its 20th year of celebrating America. It was truly inspiring to hear the little children — as young as four years old — singing about George Washington and then singing our Pledge of Allegiance. For me, the most inspiring piece was how they performed an orchestration highlighting the words to our national anthem. During the last moments of the performance, the entire audience of 2,000 people rose to join in with the choir. It was truly moving.
Today is a special day to commemorate what happened 250 years ago. On May 17, 1776, Congress — with John Hancock as president — created a proclamation asking the citizens of our small, aspiring nation to pray and offer thanksgiving for what they had accomplished so far. They asked for God’s protection of their troops as they defended the liberties that they so earnestly desired. The original printing of this proclamation can be seen in an exhibit entitled “The Pen is Mightier: Writing a Revolution,” on the fourth floor of our state Capitol through December. A similar exhibit is traveling throughout the state highlighting the words and documents of American independence. You can find when this will be in your community on our website: America250.utah.gov.
President Donald Trump’s proclamation commemorating this May 17 anniversary asked all of us to rededicate ourselves in remembrance of the ideals that the 1776 proclamation outlined and for God’s continued protection and guidance for our nation.
During this year the America250 Utah Commission’s central themes are to educate, engage and unite as one people. The commission has provided materials for our schools; we have encouraged citizens to participate in serving others through service projects. We’ve challenged all Utahns to strengthen our bodies and minds through participating in walks to commemorate this historic year. We have provided financial resources for our cities and counties to highlight their patriotic spirit and what makes their communities unique.
We are inviting all Utahns to participate in America’s Potluck on July 5 and gather over a shared meal with their neighbors to share what freedom means to them. Initiated in Utah, America’s Potluck has now been adopted by all 50 states and territories and will be celebrated by 342 million Americans.
I encourage all Utahns to participate in America250 Utah’s programs, and to remind yourselves and teach your children the meanings of the freedoms that we enjoy. I encourage you to maybe even sing a few of those songs that so well identify with our nation and its independence.