Officials begin plans for 2026 celebration
County residents should memorize the word “semiquincentennial” because it's going to be used with increasing frequency in the next five years.
Preparations are beginning for a host of celebrations leading up to July 4, 2026, which is the United States' 250th birthday, or semiquincentennial.
America250 is a nationwide effort to commemorate the event, and so far 18 states have created commissions to join the group in marking the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
America250Pa, Pennsylvania's commission, comprises current and past state leaders, private citizens and industry leaders. The commission was officially sworn in on Sept. 17, 2019, in Harrisburg.
Commission leaders formed a county advisory committee and asked commissioners from all 67 counties in the state to appoint a representative who will serve on the committee until 2026.
The Butler County commissioners a few months ago appointed Jack Cohen, president of the county Tourism and Convention Bureau, to the commission.
“The idea is that the entire country will be involved in the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026,” Cohen said of America250 and its state partners.
He said each county will plan events and activities leading up to the semiquincentennial, and a massive celebration on July 4, 2026.The county pulled out all the stops in the days leading up to the nation's bicentennial on July 4, 1976.Included in the celebrations were a children's puppet show on Main Street; a fashion show, also on Main Street; a parade; and a huge Bicentennial Town Meeting between the courthouse and Diamond Park, complete with period costumes, commemorative regiments and a marching band.Cohen said he has many ideas that he is eager to bounce off his committee co-chairmen, Tammy Schuey, general manager at the Butler Eagle; Vicki Hinterberger, president of the Butler County Radio Network; and David Murray, president of the Moraine Preservation Fund.“I have some pie-in-the-sky ideas, and that's why I brought other people in, to ground me more,” Cohen said.One event that has already occurred is the placement of a Patriot Marker at the county courthouse by the Daughters of the American Revolution that honors the sacrifice and commitment to freedom of the Revolutionary War soldiers.Cohen said the next project will be a bell to be designed by each county's officials and made by a local artist in each county.The bell will be displayed at the official semiquincentennial celebration in 2026, Cohen said.He said America250Pa is charging each county to plant a certain type of tree in commemoration of the 250th birthday celebration as well.Cohen said he and his co-chairmen are preparing to hold their first meeting to discuss their upcoming five years of work on the project.“We are going to be looking for committee people throughout the county,” he said.Cohen said he agreed to serve as Butler County's America250Pa committee chairman because he thinks it is important to retain and celebrate the nation's history.“We should be thankful for those who came before us and sacrificed for the freedoms we all have and share as Americans,” Cohen said.He looks forward to the county celebration of the country's semiquincentennial.“That will be one heck of a party,” Cohen said.
