Across the nation, members of the Legion Family made sure America’s 250th birthday was celebrated the right way.
As Americans across the country came together to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, members of the American Legion Family were at the forefront of events commemorating the United States’ semiquincentennial.
Whether it was organizing parades, hosting celebrations or putting on fireworks display, the Legion Family ensured this very special July 4th received the commemoration it observed.
The following are examples of how the Fourth of July and the nation’s semiquincentennial were observed by the American Legion Family. Post, units, squadrons and chapters who led or participated in America 250 events are encouraged to share their stories and photos on Legiontown in the “America 250” section.
Arizona
In Peoria, John J. Morris Post 62’s July 4 event included the arrival of 20 American Legion Riders on their motorcycles. A ceremony followed that included remarks from various Legion Family members and a dance performance.
Following the ceremony, the post handed out free T-shirts that commemorated the nation’s 250th birthday and then provided hot dogs, hamburgers and brisket during a pot-luck lunch. A live band followed, while Junior Auxiliary members painted rocks with patriotic sayings to give to attendees. Those at the post also were able to witness a flyover from Luke Air Force Base personnel.
California
In Newport Beach, American Legion Yacht Club Post 291 hosted its annual Fourth of July Old Glory Boat Parade, “Celebrating 250 Years Of Freedom.” The day kicked off with a boat parade of more than 40 vessels. Post 291 honored the military and veterans as the grand marshals on the lead boat.
The day also included contests for the boats, such as Best Decorated and Most Creative.
Connecticut
In Ansonia, Gordon-Visselli Post 50 in Ansonia hosted its sixth annual model rocket launch on July 4. This year’s launch featured 60 rockets. The post also provided music and popsicles, and had on hand a replica of the Declaration of Independence.
“Every year, the turnout gets better and better, and people love it. We got the scouts involved with us a few years ago, and it’s been ballooning ever since,” Post 50 Chaplain Thomas Henri said. “It’s a good deal. I mean, rockets, rockets’ red glare and stuff. You can’t go wrong.”
Illinois
· In Edwardsville, American Legion Post 199 hosted its American Legion Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks, which included food vendors, music and games for children, as well as a fireworks display. More than 1,000 people attended the celebration. Inside of Post 199, the Madison County Historical Society had a booth that included a replica of the Declaration of Independence that people could sign.
· In Centralia, American Legion Post 446 buried a time capsule in Fairview Park July 3 to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The time capsule is planned to be opened in 25 years and contains items meant to represent this moment in history, including a photograph of the new water treatment plant, a 250th-anniversary flag, a penny, a Bible, calendars, and various items and records from the Masonic Lodge, Centralia Police Department, City of Centralia and City of Wamac. The plan is to open the time capsule in 25 years.
Massachusetts
In South Hadley, American Legion Post 260 hosted a ceremony July 2 at the South Hadley Town Library to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with a focus on the Declaration of Independence that included detailed historical facts about the document.
“As often as we celebrate this holiday annually and the way we do it, we often don’t realize the history behind it and some of the factors that we’ve learned a lot just to present the facts,” Post 260 Commander Brian Willette said. “So learning about our founding and our founding fathers and why and the what and how things happen in 1776 is beneficial to all of us.”
Michigan
In Marquette, American Legion Post 44’s color guard led off the Marquette Fourth of July Parade on Saturday.
“When I came home, I didn’t necessarily get a hero’s welcome, but I feel like every Fourth of July, when I walk through this parade people stand up giving applause, it kinda feels that way,” Post 44 Color Guard member Jesse Sherman said. “I hope everyone goes home (from the parade) feeling proud to be an American, happy with what we’ve created so far as a country as a people together and hopefully we can out together another 250 years of great national pride.”
Minnesota
In Forest Lake, American Legion Post 225 again teamed with the city for the Forest Lake Independence Day celebration. The multi-day event included a parade, live music, food vendors, a carnival and a fireworks show on July 4. While the city helps pay for the fireworks show, volunteers from Post 225 work year-round to fundraise and plan the many activities of this event.
“We are volunteers. We have day jobs and other obligations, but we do this for the community,” Post 225 Commander Ashley Venburg said. “We pour our hearts into this event, and I just hope the community appreciates the work we do to put this on.”
“It really is a generational event,” Past Post Commander and Fourth of July Committee member Krista Goodyear added. "Every year we have people from surrounding cities, out of state and even out of the country return home for our celebration. Across generations, community comes back to Forest Lake for this celebration.”
Missouri
· In Columbia, Herbert Williams Post 202 hosted a family-friendly event to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The event included the reading of multiple presidential speeches, as well as a display to raise awareness about veteran suicide. The event also included Revolutionary War re-enactors and food.
· In Kimberling City, Table Rock Post 637 used June 30 to celebrate not only the nation’s 250th birthday, but the post’s 25th birthday as well. The celebration began with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, recognizing the post’s 25 years of dedicated service to veterans, their families and the community. “I think The American Legion is extremely important, especially in our rural communities,” Post 637 Commander Heather Lawson said. “This is where a lot of veterans choose to retire in the smaller communities, away from the hustle and bustle, helps them a lot with PTSD and just being part of a small community where they can trust and be around people that will take care of them. And not only are we here to support our veterans, and we do a lot within our community as well.”
Montana
In Stevensville ahead of July 4, members of American Legion Post 94 teamed with preschool students from the Sapphire Early Learning Center to place flags along Main Street. The Legionnaires climbed ladders to hang the flags, which were handed to them by the students.
“It’s teaching the kids a little bit about the flag,” Post 94 Commander Bob Spitzer said. “I think we see that lacking today. We’re trying to teach them a little bit about it and hopefully help bring it back.”
New Hampshire
· In Derry, American Legion Post 9 provided a water and ice stop during the Greater Derry Track Club Run for Freedom 5K/10K to benefit Liberty House on July 4. Post members cheered on and provided water to runners during the event.
Liberty House is a nonprofit safe haven providing substance-free housing and assistance covering everyday needs to help veterans get back on their feet, regain their independence and build stable futures.
· In Portsmouth, American Legion members attended a naturalization ceremony at Strawbery Banke Museum to celebrate America's 250th Anniversary. One hundred and one new citizens from 42 different countries took the Oath of Allegiance. Two military members of the U.S. Armed Forces were also sworn in as citizens of the United States. The American Legion family was represented by Department of New Hampshire Commander Myron Crossley, Department Vice Commanders Dan Beliveau and Paul Evans, Americanism Chairman Tony Violanti, Past National Commander Paul Morin and the Sweeney Post 2 color guard.
New York
In Hanover following the town’s July 4 parade, Forestville American Legion Post 953 provided activities that included reenactments of the Declaration of Independence signing, a period costume contest and a pie contest.
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Pennsylvania
· In Summit Hill, the borough’s Fourth of July celebration included honoring Summit Hill Post 316 by the Recreation Commission. A plaque was presented to Post 316 Commander Brad Jones to recognize the post and its American Legion Auxiliary unit for the sacrifices and support its members have made through the generations since it was formed.
· In State College, the annual Fourth of July parade celebrated both its 99th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday, with nearly 50 units taking part. The parade was coordinated by Freedom Rising USA, which was formed by members of the Nittany American Legion Post 245, who previously organized the parade for the past three years. The post formed Freedom Rising USA as a nonprofit to fundraise for the parade and to host other events that celebrate the traditions of American holidays and the values they represent, honor veterans and strengthen community bonds. Post 245’s color guard led off the parade.
“It’s a chance for people to celebrate how absolutely great it is to be an American,” Post 245 Commander D.J. Watkins said. “I am a retired Navy Special Operations officer, and I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve seen a lot of governments that just don’t work. This place we’re in is just absolutely amazing. We want to celebrate America, celebrate the American holidays, honor our veterans and let people be happy to be an American because it’s such a great country.”
Tennessee
· In Centerville, Richard Graham Post 36 teamed with its Sons of The American Legion squadron and American Legion Auxiliary unit to create a Freedom Trail for Hickman County’s Independence 250 event on July 3. The Freedom Trail provided a brief patriotic history of key characters who played a big part in the history of the nation, Tennessee and the local community. Costumed actors portrayed George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, Minnie Pearl and others. Each character shared a short talk on their role in history. “We were elated that we had awesome participation from each part of the Legion family,” Unit 36 President Debbie DePaul said. “We want to thank the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce for giving us the opportunity to present this program about Americanism.”
· In South Pittsburg, American Legion Post 62 hosted an Independence Day celebration that brought together veterans and their families, the community and area mayors. During the celebration, local veterans were honored for their service.
Texas
In Harker Heights, American Legion Post 573 hosted the community for a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday that included a community breakfast, games, tournaments, live entertainment, a barbecue and cash giveaways.
“It’s a one-in-a-lifetime thing for all of us,” Post 573 Commander James Finley said. “We want not only members, but the community – everybody – to come have fun and enjoy the festivities.”
Tournaments throughout the day included dominoes, spades, pool, cornhole, axe throwing using plastic axes and a variety of toss games. The post also distributed approximately $3,600 in giveaways.
Utah
In Ogden, a veterans walk through Farmers Market Ogden was organized by Baker-Merrill Post 9 that culminated in attending a ceremony to formally welcome the Merci Car back to Union Station after a two-year restoration of the boxcar in Wyoming. The walk attracted more than 100 veterans and active-duty military personnel from across the state.
At the conclusion of the walk during a rededication ceremony, those in attendance were briefed on the history of the boxcar and its many purposes over the last century and a half, from hauling men and horses during both World Wars to bringing gifts of national gratitude to Utahans as part of the Merci Train in 1949.
“It was spectacular,” said Post 9 Second Vice Commander Sara Garcia, one of the organizers of the walk. “We were so overcome with the gracious, ‘Thank you for your service,’ touching their heart all the way through it. It was wonderful. It’s great to see so many patriotic people. … I was happy with how the crowd received us. It just feels good to be appreciated and loved.”
The event also served as an opportunity to honor 101-year-old veteran Casey Kunimara, who lives in Ogden but was unable attend the event due to illness.
“Utah has one remaining living veteran who rode in one of those boxcars — that is Casey Kunimara, who now resides in the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home on 12th Street,” Past Department of Utah Commander Bob Jones said. “Casey has been my mentor for an awful lot of years.”
Virginia
In Gloucester, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 75 made and hand-delivered goodie baskets to veterans at local residence facilities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Wisconsin
In Appleton, American Legion co-organized an Independence Day event on July 3 that included a fireworks celebration, food trucks, a brat fry and live music. Thousands of area residents attended the event.
Wyoming
In Rock Springs, members of Archie Hay Post 24 read the Declaration of Independence in city chambers on July 8. “It is valuable and everyone should understand it,” Post 24 Commander Ray Simms said of the document.
In Fremont County, members of Riverton American Legion Post 19 and Lander’s Don Stough Post 33 organized and took part in readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8.
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