Uncle Sam is turning 250. These types of milestones occur once every other generation. This particular milestone, the semiquincentennial, is receiving extraordinary celebrations around the world.
Let’s start here at home and, in particular, in DC. The skies above the National Mall will feature one of the most ambitious aerial displays ever assembled. It includes the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Navy Blue Angels, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, and MV-22 Osprey Demo Team. Also there will be a Stealth Airpower Flyover and a Tri-Bomber Flyover. All five branches of the armed forces will be represented.
The Washington Monument has been the teaser in DC. Starting in July 1 and continuing through July 5, projection-mapped red, white, and blue video displays —including a giant “250”— designed to glow as the world’s tallest birthday candle, have been featured there.
July 4th’s evening’s storytelling is organized around seven chapters of American exceptionalism.
- American Innovation & the Space Frontier
- American Music Across Generations
- American Sports & Athletic Excellence
- Military Service & Sacrifice
- Faith & National Character
- Civil Rights & the Promise of America
- Native American Heritage & Original Voices
The coup de grace will be the fireworks display. Pyrotecnico will launch more than 850,000 pyrotechnic effects from 10 launch sites including eight barges floating in the Potomac River. The show is expected to last about 40 minutes. This could be a Guinness World Record.
Want to watch? Go to Freedom250.org’s livestream.
This is just in the Capital. Most states also have big events planned. Perhaps the single most spectacular one might be Sail4th 250. It will be visible from New Jersey and New York. 48 tall sailing vessels from 20 foreign countries will create a procession from Sandy Hook, NJ, up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge.
Included in this will be an International Naval Review. Over 50 U.S. and allied warships will be anchored along the Hudson, only the seventh such review in American history. There also will be an International Aerial Review in which the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels lead a flyover of more than 100 American and international aircraft from 46 nations.
Then there is the Global 250 initiative. Dozens of countries are lighting up landmarks in their own country with the colors of the American flag.
Happy Birthday, America! Keep being the shining city on the hill.