Wentzville, Missouri

Today, we stand together to mark an extraordinary moment in history—250 years since the birth of the United States of America. Two and a half centuries ago, in 1776, a bold declaration was made: that all people are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

That vision, inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, launched a journey unlike any the world had seen. It was imperfect. It was daring. And it was the beginning of an experiment in democracy that continues to evolve.

In these 250 years, our nation has faced trials that tested its soul—wars, injustice, division. And yet, we’ve also seen resilience, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit of a more perfect union. We have fought to expand the meaning of freedom, to include more voices, more rights, more people in the American promise.

Today, we honor the generations who came before us—those who dreamed, sacrificed, built, and believed. The soldiers and civil rights leaders. The scientists and teachers. The immigrants, the farmers, the activists, and everyday Americans whose stories make up our shared history.

But this anniversary is not just about looking back. It is a call to look forward—to ask ourselves: What kind of country do we want to be for the next 250 years?

Let this milestone remind us that our story is still being written. That democracy is not a destination, but a living idea. That freedom requires responsibility. That justice requires courage. And that unity—while never easy—is always worth striving for.

So today, we celebrate not just America’s past, but its promise.

May we honor it not just in words, but in action.

And may the next chapter of this great American story be one of hope, inclusion, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that first lit the flame of independence in 1776.

Happy 250th birthday, America. Here’s to the journey ahead.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Mayor Nick Guccione
Wentzville, Missouri