Editorial: Marking America’s next great milestone begins with us
Daily Inter Lake | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 4 months AGO
The sun sets behind the Statue of Liberty, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Spirited parades with decorated floats. Dazzling fireworks streaking across the night sky. Celebrations from coast to coast went all out to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
From top-billed shows in major cities to hometown gatherings in Bigfork, Kalispell, Whitefish, Lakeside, Polebridge and Troy, Americans united to celebrate the historic milestone.
As parties and backyard barbecues linger into the weekend, let’s mark this occasion not only with celebration but also with moments of reflection on our past and on what’s possible in the centuries ahead.
Ask yourself: What can citizens of this great nation do better to ensure future generations celebrate America’s 500th anniversary in 2276?
The answer starts with a promise to never forget our founding principles of liberty, equality and self-government and to never stop striving for the unity that has carried the United States through its most challenging moments.
That’s easier said than done in this partisan era. One recent poll found that just 4 in 10 adults feel “proud” of the 250th anniversary. Not exactly the pinnacle of patriotic morale.
Yet another Fourth of July poll found that 7 in 10 adults think America has succeeded “a great deal” or “a fair amount” in achieving the nation’s ideals.
Even in uncertain times, most Americans still believe in the principles that have guided the nation since 1776.
“We’ve just all got to find unity somewhere, whether that’s in laughter or perseverance, and keep everybody cool,” an auto mechanic in Kansas told the Associated Press when asked what makes America “awesome.”
Wise words from the heartland.
The nation’s first 250 years have been defined by defying odds, pushing through hardships and preserving the freedoms and ideals that unite us.
Those same qualities will determine whether future generations gather to commemorate our nation’s next great milestone. The responsibility for meeting that moment starts with us.