I’m starting early to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial
- col-teri-stein
- October 16, 2024
- 1572
I’ve always been interested in history, so I was extremely excited in 1976 when we were going to be celebrating the 200th anniversary of America. I was 19 years old and full of crazy ideas like riding a motorcycle (I can barely ride a bicycle) around the country to see all the celebrations.
The city of New Philadelphia was having a big three-day festival to celebrate too. It was going to be great. A mural of the bicentennial logo was painted in the middle of town square and a community photograph of people standing by the logo was taken from the top of a nearby building. Nope, I wasn’t in that photo.
I spent the entire three-day festival working at my job one block away scooping ice cream cones and making sundaes and milkshakes. I had the afternoon shift, which was about 1:30 to 10 p.m. or much later because there was a lot of clean-up to do after closing. I missed the whole thing.
It’s been a major disappointment my entire life. But now, where have the years gone? It’s nearly 50 years later and almost time for the 250th anniversary celebration of America in 2026.
I was so happy to attend the America 250-Ohio Tuscarawas County celebration kick off Oct. 10 with a program by Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Dr. Peter Cressy. The event was held at the Kent State University Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center.
Cressy is an inspiration.
“This 250th celebration is incredibly important, because it’s a time to bring our nation back together, to put partisan politics aside and think about what is best for the country,” Cressy said adding that the two major party system is still important. “Any young people that are here today, I particularly want to thank you. You are the future of the country. And as (George) Washington said himself repeatedly in his farewell address and in other places, this is a great experiment in democracy, and it will require all of us as citizens to participate.”
Using examples of problems faced by former U.S. Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and others, Cressy discussed techniques, including listening, collaboration and more, that great leaders use to bring people together.
In 1775, Washington’s goal was to build a united country.
“Even today, being united is critical. One of the reasons you’re so important is, it is here in the heartland, where you collaborate and come together, that you create the example for Washington DC, not the other way around,” Cressy said. “Something happens when people go to Washington, they somehow get too much more political.”
A quote by Winston Churchill, once the prime minister of the United Kingdom, was one of Cressy’s favorites and something everyone needs to keep in mind.
“Success is not final. Failure is not final. It is the courage to continue that counts,” Cressy said.
Also speaking at the event were Dean Brad Bielski of Kent State University at Tuscarawas, Wendy Zucal of the Dennison Depot Railroad Museum, Todd Kleismit, executive director of the Ohio Commission of the U.S. semiquincentennial, and Tuscarawas County Commissioner Chris Abbuhl. Providing color guard services for the event were members of the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445.
If you don’t want to miss any of the local America 250 celebrations keep your eyes open for some of the planned 2026 projects including the Tuscarawas County Welcome Center timeline exhibit featuring early history, Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens 90th anniversary, Great Ohio Bike Adventure – Tuscarawas County excursion, Homefront to Warfront events June 19-20, 2026, by Age of Steam and the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, a Tuscarawas County parade float to be featured in all area parades, 50 Things to See and Do on U.S. Route 250 Tuscarawas County brochure, an ARTSNCT special celebration, a new mural on the Laurel Grocer building in Dennison, and a history of manufacturing in Tuscarawas County.
A major celebration, one of five America 250-Ohio signature events, will be held April 25-26, 2026, highlighting trains, planes and automobiles and our WWII heritage. On April 25, the Buckeye Train will travel from Columbus to Dennison (round trip) and on April 26, the Buckeye Train will travel from Newark to Coshocton to Dennison (round trip.) Many more activities are included.
For more information visit TravelTusc.com and America250-Ohio.org. And let me be the first to say an early “Happy 250th America.”