Quarter Millennial.

Quarter Millennial. or Semiquincentennial

This  creates a unique opportunity to reclaim our national self-understanding. This is of vital importance and I urge Donald Trump , and JD Vance , and others to take this seriously. 

The public mythos of America, our civil religious expression, as practiced in schools and in mainstream culture, has degraded into a story of regret and bitter self-effacement. We have become a nation of flagellants, but without the possibility of redemption. A perfect inversion of the City on a Hill. 

Our heroes have become villains; our triumphs, tragedies. The protagonists in this current version of our story are the litany of the oppressed, and all told it amounts to little more than a blood libel against the great men, if humanly imperfect, who founded and made America. 

There is great power and meaning in civic celebrations like the Quarter Millennial.

 This milestone is an opportunity to reset our national narrative and self-understanding, to reassert the prominence of certain heroes and episodes that have been maligned or neglected in recent decades. Imagine art grants from the NEA for new monuments, perhaps 250 of them around the country, to celebrate and memorialize our history, as told by us. 

The great men and women who built and sacrificed and struggled and triumphed, not merely for nostalgia's sake, but as guiding symbols for a new generation of Americans dedicated to revitalizing our nation. Imagine a revival of the Library of America via the NEH to publish a catalog of books, perhaps 250 volumes, curated by people who cherish rather than hold contempt for our legacy and traditions, works of great literature to tell the complete story of the American experience and reintroduce so much of the great writing that has been buried under the weight of petty political sensitivities. Imagine art prizes, film festivals, theater, music, a true revival of the American spirit through creative undertakings, its optimism and courage. 

A celebration of the high and the good. A celebration of the strong and the aspirational. A celebration of the healthy and the capable. I know there is a temptation to cut administrative spending wherever we can, and I assume public arts is an easy target for Elon Musk and others. But I want to encourage these decision makers to consider the possibilities here. This will all be relatively cheap, but the impact will be profound and enduring. Opportunities like this do not come around often. 

People are begging for a reset. The mandate to Make America Great Again is ultimately a question of narrative. It is asking us to reach back into the past and reconstitute how we perceive ourselves. We do this by authoring our own story. There are many great patriots who can be called to this task. We are standing back and standing by.

I saved this from some article before the election... I don't recall where...

US 250th Anniversary

The United States will commemorate its 250th anniversary, also known as the Semiquincentennial, on July 4, 2026. This milestone marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. To prepare for this historic celebration, various initiatives are underway:

• The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, established by Congress in 2016, is planning and coordinating the anniversary observance. The nonpartisan commission aims to engage Americans nationwide in designing the largest and most inclusive anniversary celebration in the nation’s history.
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• America 250 is encouraging Americans to share their stories and reflections on what the United States means to them. A multi-year contest invites students in grades 3-12 to submit artwork and essays answering the question, “What does America mean to you?” for a chance to win unique experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites.
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• State-level commemorations are also underway. For example, North Carolina’s America 250 NC initiative will feature a multi-year commemoration beginning in April 2024, with a focus on 2026. The state’s activities will include educational outreach, online resources, exhibits, and commemorative events, aiming to empower North Carolinians to engage with 250 years of their rich Revolutionary history.

This significant anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead to the future. As the country approaches this milestone, it is poised to come together and celebrate its rich history and heritage.