Out of many, one: Why America 250 matters right now

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, I have found myself reflecting on both the incredible progress America has made — and the responsibility we all share in protecting the future of our republic.

I can hardly believe it has been 50 years since our bicentennial celebration. I still remember America’s 200th anniversary in 1976. I was seven years old when my mom took us to Spokane to see the steam-powered American Freedom Train, featuring twelve display cars filled with more than five hundred treasured pieces of Americana. As an elementary school teacher, my mom never missed an opportunity to create a meaningful learning experience and remind us how blessed we were to live in America.