For those of us who were around then, 1976 was a big deal as America celebrated its Bicentennial. Tall ships from all over the world sailed into New York Harbor, special coins went into circulation, and the whole nation was gripped with patriotic fervor.
Fast forward 50 years, and we’re now gearing up for the Semiquincentennial, a milestone that is poised to outdo the 200th anniversary. The National Park Service has announced the red, white, and blue lighting of the Washington Monument, transforming it into what will be the world’s largest birthday candle. Plans also include a Freedom 250 Trail to Independence Tour visiting all 50 states, a Great American State Fair on the National Mall, and, rivaling the 1976 hoopla, a spectacular parade, naval review, and Blue Angels flyover, kicking off a week of fireworks, festivals, and global unity beneath the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
And if that isn’t enough, 2026 will also place the United States at the center of the global stage with the return of the FIFA World Cup, bringing 48 national teams to North America, including matches in New York and New Jersey.
Here at home, a local 250th Anniversary Committee is planning some major observances. Organizers have already designated December 17 as William Floyd Day in honor of Suffolk County’s only signer of the Declaration of Independence and are working to highlight the historical significance of the Manor of St. George, Nathaniel Woodhull’s sacrifice for freedom, and the exploits of Benjamin Tallmadge, whose raid on British forces later inspired the creation of the Purple Heart medal, awarded by Gen. George Washington to one of his brave dragoons.
From the Battle of Long Island, which brought British troops quartered in local homes, to musket ball holes still visible in Setauket’s Caroline Church, to the Culper Spy Ring that supplied Washington with critical intelligence, and the headstones of Patriots buried in unassuming cemeteries across Suffolk, the region is steeped in Revolutionary history—all of which will come to light as the nation celebrates its 250th year of independence.