Under bright summer skies and a wave of patriotic spirit, the Tri-Hamlet 250th Committee launched its year-long celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial on Saturday with a lively kickoff event dubbed “Fired Up for Freedom.” Held at the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association clubhouse, the family-friendly gathering marked the beginning of a community-wide effort to honor the nation’s founding and one of its most distinguished local heroes, William Floyd.
Dozens of residents and visitors from Mastic, Shirley, Moriches, and beyond gathered for the free event, which featured food, music, historical reenactors, and an energizing call to civic pride.
“This isn’t just about celebrating America’s birthday,” said committee organizer Bill Doyle. “It’s about remembering the courage of people like William Floyd, who didn’t just talk about freedom, he risked everything to make it real.”
Floyd, a Mastic native, was the first New Yorker to sign the Declaration of Independence. His role in American history is central to the Tri-Hamlet 250th Committee’s mission, which includes raising awareness about the area’s Revolutionary War legacy and promoting its unique connection to the nation’s founding.
The weekend event also served to introduce a slate of upcoming initiatives, including parades, concerts, classroom programs, and a new monument at Patriots Preserve Park in Shirley. The project, championed by Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, will feature a bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence mounted on granite and is set to be unveiled ahead of the nation’s July 4, 2026 birthday.
“This monument will stand as a testament to the patriots of our area and will be something our community can take pride in for generations,” Panico said. Also attending the kickoff event were Senator Dean Murray, County Executive Ed Romaine, Legislator Jim Mazzarella, Town Councilwoman Karen Dunne-Kesnig, and Alice Painter with Assemblyman Joe DeStefano’s office.
Other celebration contributors are the Arthur Clune American Legion Post, Colonel Josiah Smith Chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution, Beechwood Homes, and East End Sign Design. “A big thank you to the Mastic Beach Property Owners for hosting the event and all of the sponsors and participants,” Mazzarella said. “This is going to be an exciting 12 months.” Joining the officials were Property Owners President Kevin Collins and Frank Fugarino of the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association.
“There’s something powerful about connecting to your local history,” Doyle said. “When kids learn that someone from their hometown helped create this country, it changes how they see themselves and their place in the world.”
Plans are underway to transform the MBPOA grounds into a temporary headquarters for semiquincentennial activities, including a visitor information center supporting tours of the nearby William Floyd Estate, Manor of St. George, and other points of historical interest.
As the Tri-Hamlet area gears up for 2026, Doyle and his team are determined to ensure that their community’s role in American history is fully recognized and honored. “Our story deserves to be told,” Doyle said. “And we’re just getting started.”
For more information, residents can contact the committee at trihamlet250@gmail.com.