America 250: The Next Six Years, still time to celebrate
Monday Memo: July 6, AD2026
Welcome to the Monday Memo, where I explore the world’s enduring dynamics; grounded in first principles, philosophy, character, and statecraft, rather than passing fads.
I hope everyone had a memorable 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Not everyone felt in the flag-waving mood as the US has had a very up-and-down couple of years. However, Saturday’s anniversary is not the only historically significant date coming up. Over the next six years there are a few events that are worth organizing additional commemorations. Chin up, America.
It is good and healthy to keep festivals local and parties on the block. For the events I will list, I hope you take inspiration and think of ways you, your friends, and neighbors can organize events and get togethers around things worth remembering.
Next year, 2027, is the 250th anniversary of the Union. The “united States of America” declared independence from the King of Great Britain together, but as independent states. In the Declaration, the word “united” was an adjective, describing that the former colonies were together in their endeavor to fight and defeat George III. The following year is when their delegates agreed to the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, a document that read in its first article:
Article I. The Stile of this confederacy shall be, “The United States of America.”
That is when our name became official, where “united” became a proper noun. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. The first state to ratify it was Virginia, not Delaware by the way; Delaware is not and never has been the first state because the Union was created in 1777 and not 1787. Virginia proposed Independence, and Virginia ratified the Articles first on December 16, 1777. Both July 4 and November 15, 2027, are excellent days to hold events and parties. And December 16, 2027, too.
2028 is a big election year, but February 6 will be the 250th anniversary of France joining the Glorious Cause. The two treaties of Franco-American alliance were signed on February 6, 1778. This would be the time to tap into your local Sister City networks and connect with the French. Citizens of both nations should not let this moment slip by. When the Kingdom of Spain joined the war against Britain, it was because of their alliance with France and the 1779 Treaty of Aranjuez between those two kingdoms of the Bourbon dynasty. Thanks to France, the British Royal Navy had to fight two world-class opponents simultaneously, which also required the deployment of British land forces to secure other British territories from Franco-Spanish invasion. By dividing the attention of Britain and its allies, the French gave the Americans the boost needed to win in North America. Vive la France!
2031 is the final one I’ll mention because, as a Virginian, I have to end with the 250th anniversary of Yorktown, October 19, 1781. The joint Franco-American victory forced British Prime Minister Lord North to realize he had failed, and the war was unwinnable. If you can, you should visit Virginia in 2031 and head directly to the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, all within 25 miles of each other. However, the heart of this message is: do something locally. 340 million people should be able to come up with innovative ways to celebrate their local life as part of this country that is the size of a continent. Mark the occasions at home. There is so much to America that we cannot contain it in Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, or New York. Whether you are in Virginia or Hawai’i, the Spirit of 1776 has to be felt in your community and embraced locally.
National cohesion is a bottom-up process.
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