1776-2026: The Dream Still Shines at Dawn’s Early Light!

January 5, 2026 by  
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Whether we call it the Semiquincentennial, America250, the Quarter Millennial, the Sestercentennial, or simply the 250th birthday of the boldest experiment in self-government, 2026 rises like a new dawn—filled with promise, reflection, and hope for every American and every friend of liberty across the world.

The front page below, taken from  a newspaper celebrating the Centennial Fourth of July in 1876, carries us back to that earlier moment of celebration—a time when a young nation looked proudly to its past and eagerly toward its future. It reminds us of the countless generations whose courage and sacrifices made possible Franklin D. Roosevelt’s enduring truth:

“We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions—bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality.”

That vision still lights our way. Yet we are also called to remember Frederick Douglass’s wise and urgent reminder, spoken on the 23rd anniversary of emancipation in the District of Columbia:

“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.”

As we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, may we lift our hearts in gratitude for the Divine grace that has guided us through triumph and trial alike. And as we look ahead, may we renew our shared promise—to preserve every hard-won freedom and to keep lifting the banner of justice, opportunity, and dignity for all who call this land home.

Here’s to the journey still unfolding. Here’s to the dream still alive.

Happy 250th, America!

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Filed under: Food for Thought, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, Noteworthy Issues, Post Civil War, The Collectible Community
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