Today is the Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. July 4^th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941.

Every year, celebrations include fireworks, parades, concerts, casual family gatherings, and barbecues.

This year, Freedom 250 events began on Memorial Day and will continue through December 2026.  Check out this list of Key 2026 Dates, Locations, Events, and Celebrations from Newsweek.

• May 15: Virginia’s Independence 250th (Williamsburg, Virginia)
• May-July: Sail250 Tall Ships (Gulf Coast to Boston)
• June 14: National Flag Day (Americans nationwide encouraged to fly the U.S. flag to honor its adoption in 1777)
• July 4: National Independence Day with parades, fireworks, and the burial of a national time capsule in the Independence Mall in Philadelphia
• July 5: America’s Potluck—community picnics nationwide
• Nov 11: Veterans Day Commemoration (Washington, D.C.)
• Dec 25: Washington’s Crossing Reenactment (Pennsylvania and New Jersey)

Happy 250^th Birthday, America!

Readers, be safe and enjoy your birthday celebrations today…

And as you celebrate, don’t forget to give thanks for the brave men and women in uniform who are serving on foreign soil. Pray for their safety as they do their jobs to ensure our continued freedom.