America 250 is not just a birthday celebration or a notice on our smartphone’s calendar app. It is a moment to remember how far we have come as a nation, understand the present, and take responsibility for our future.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress officially enacted the Declaration of Independence. With this document, 13 colonies expressed their intent on liberty and self-governance. They declared that they were united, free, and independent states that would no longer be ruled by a foreign power abroad.

Many people over the last 250 years dedicated and gave their lives for ideals that were put forth that day. Through growth, grief, grit, conflict and the extension of rights afforded by the Constitution, we have emerged as a free and prosperous country that serves as a model to the rest of the world.

The genius of our American experiment is not that it began as a finished product. It’s that it continues to be perfected over time, while giving citizens a language and a framework for tailoring reforms. As the years have gone on, so have the debates in town halls, school board meetings, court rooms, newsrooms, places of worship, neighborhood associations, at kitchen tables or out on the driveway on policies and how things could be made better. This relentless refinement has brought us to where we are today.

At a time when many people feel divided or distrustful of institutions, this shared national moment will no doubt bring people across our communities together for parades, festivals, and other celebrations. And that’s what makes this milestone great. America 250 does not belong only to Washington, D.C. or grand ceremonies in large cities. It belongs just as much to the farms that put food on our tables and towns with factories that have powered our ascent and given us innovative technological breakthroughs. It belongs to teachers, parents, first responders and volunteers who are there for their fellow community members. Every community in every corner has people who have built, defended and sustained the America we know at 250 years of age.

We should take this moment to be united as one – something that has long stood as one of our country’s enduring strengths. From here we must ask: what kind of country do we want to build as we begin the next 250 years?

We must prioritize holding firm to our commitments, like religious freedoms, the rule of law, strong families and self-responsibility. We must focus on how we are united and able to work together to solve problems. We should understand that it’s OK to agree to disagree, and that civil discourse has always been woven into our fabric.

The U.S. Constitution is the oldest active written constitution in the world, and the average written constitution lasts anywhere from 15-19 years. What we have is truly precious. After two and a half centuries of independence, we shouldn’t be asking whether America is worth celebrating. The question is whether we are willing to preserve principles that allowed America to break the mold of conventional colonial dominance and become worthy of celebration. 

Liberty is a gift, a duty and a legacy. It has always authored our story and will write our next chapter.