In the spirit of independence and unity, we the residents of Scottdale, should prepare to honor this historic milestone. I’m making a public ‘call to action’ to all of our government, churches, non-profits, schools, and businesses to develop an event during 2026 to celebrate this once-in our-lifetime event. The vision is to make Scottdale the ‘most patriotic small town’ in America. All or our current town events (fall festival, concerts, picnic in the park, etc.) for 2026 should be geared toward the anniversary theme. Hopefully, everyone will want to take part in this celebration. Local social media always has discussions about positive things that they would like to see in our town. This is the perfect opportunity for Scottdale to find a sense of community and patriotism.
To get the ball rolling, I’ve brainstormed a few ideas……
Parade of History: Organize a parade that showcases key events from American history, with floats representing iconic moments like the Declaration of Independence, Civil Rights Movement, and Moon Landing. Local schools, organizations, and historical groups could participate.
Time Capsule Dedication: Invite the community to contribute letters, photos, and mementos to a time capsule that will be buried and opened at a future milestone anniversary.
Patriotic Festival: Host a day-long festival with food trucks, live music (perhaps a local band or tribute performances), craft booths, and games. Add a touch of history with reenactments or storytelling.
Community Art Project: Create a mural or mosaic that depicts the town’s role in America’s history or its vision for the future, involving local artists and residents.
Fireworks Display: A grand fireworks show with patriotic music is always a hit. Pair it with a concert for a magical evening.
Historical Exhibits: Collaborate with local museums or historical societies to showcase exhibits about the town’s past and its connection to broader U.S. history.
250 Acts of Kindness Challenge: Encourage residents to collectively perform 250 acts of kindness in the community as a way of honoring the values of unity and compassion.
Veterans and Heroes Tribute: Organize an event to honor veterans, first responders, and community heroes. Include speeches, awards, or a wall of honor.
American Flag Display: Create an impressive visual display with flags throughout the town. You could even aim for 250 flags to represent each year of the nation’s history. (The buntings that were displayed last year made a great addition to the flags lining our streets. How about everyone in town buy a flag and hang it on the front porch of your house? How great would it look if the majority of homes in town were flying the colors?
Outdoor Movie Night: Show classic American films or documentaries in a park, accompanied by popcorn and snacks.
That’s what I came up in just a few minutes. How many more great ideas can everyone come up with to make Scottdale “The Most Patriotic Town
Are You Ready for the 250th?
To get the ball rolling, I’ve brainstormed a few ideas……
Parade of History: Organize a parade that showcases key events from American history, with floats representing iconic moments like the Declaration of Independence, Civil Rights Movement, and Moon Landing. Local schools, organizations, and historical groups could participate.
Time Capsule Dedication: Invite the community to contribute letters, photos, and mementos to a time capsule that will be buried and opened at a future milestone anniversary.
Patriotic Festival: Host a day-long festival with food trucks, live music (perhaps a local band or tribute performances), craft booths, and games. Add a touch of history with reenactments or storytelling.
Community Art Project: Create a mural or mosaic that depicts the town’s role in America’s history or its vision for the future, involving local artists and residents.
Fireworks Display: A grand fireworks show with patriotic music is always a hit. Pair it with a concert for a magical evening.
Historical Exhibits: Collaborate with local museums or historical societies to showcase exhibits about the town’s past and its connection to broader U.S. history.
250 Acts of Kindness Challenge: Encourage residents to collectively perform 250 acts of kindness in the community as a way of honoring the values of unity and compassion.
Veterans and Heroes Tribute: Organize an event to honor veterans, first responders, and community heroes. Include speeches, awards, or a wall of honor.
American Flag Display: Create an impressive visual display with flags throughout the town. You could even aim for 250 flags to represent each year of the nation’s history. (The buntings that were displayed last year made a great addition to the flags lining our streets. How about everyone in town buy a flag and hang it on the front porch of your house? How great would it look if the majority of homes in town were flying the colors?
Outdoor Movie Night: Show classic American films or documentaries in a park, accompanied by popcorn and snacks.
That’s what I came up in just a few minutes. How many more great ideas can everyone come up with to make Scottdale “The Most Patriotic Town