Happy family look at holiday fireworks in sky, celebration card
On July 4th,2026, the United States of America turns 250 years old.
Two hundred and fifty years.
A quarter of a millennium.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum – left, right, center, or somewhere completely your own – this is a time in our history that is incredibly special and worth pausing to celebrate together.
I am an optimist. I believe there are so many wonderful reasons to be thankful we live here! We can worship as we choose, or choose to not worship at all. We can speak our mind at a city hall meeting, stand on a corner with a sign, or build a business from nothing. We can move across the country for a fresh start or live quietly in a small town and raise your family in simple existence. We can think, speak, and assemble however we want. In much of the world, these actions remain dreams.
Our libraries are free. Our public universities have opened their doors to millions of first-generation students who changed their family trees forever. Our military volunteers defend not only our land but sometimes the people around the world who cannot defend themselves. Our doctors, scientists, and engineers have created treatments and technologies that have saved millions of lives around the world. When disasters strike, Americans are often the first to arrive with aid.
We also have so much beauty! Think about our national parks – there are so many to explore! And they belong to every single one of us. There is natural beauty from the Rocky Mountains to the Grand Canyon, and to the beaches, deserts, and farmland. Spectacular. I could go on and on. This is a pretty amazing place to call home amongst the purple mountain majesties and amber waves of grain of Broomfield in particular.
I know life is not perfect here. But I have decided that if I choose to live here, I am going to focus on all the incredible things surrounding me. My community, the opportunities, the innovation, the beauty, the freedom to be me.
As America turns 250, let’s celebrate the courage of those who came before us, the resilience of those we stand with today, and the opportunities we can create for tomorrow. Let’s honor every single person who has shaped this nation. America’s story has always been written in local communities – neighbors coming together, sharing ideas, and building things that last for the next generation. Let’s always believe that tomorrow can be better than today.
This July 4th let’s light a sparkler, watch the fireworks reflect off of a lake, sit with a neighbor, and raise a glass to 250 years of this grand, messy, magnificent land we live on. We are still free. And that, without question, is worth celebrating.
Happy Fourth of July everyone, and happy 250th birthday America!
Lisa Payne writes about home, food, and family. You can reach her at paynefam6@gmail.com.
