Guest blog post by National Americanism Committee Chair Diana Sirovina
July 4, 2026…America’s 250th birthday, our semiquincentennial! There will be speeches. There will be parades. There will be parties. There will be fireworks. And The American Legion Family will be there for every moment of this historic once-in-a-lifetime event!
Members of the Legion Family all over the country are planning unique and meaningful ways to commemorate this historic moment in our nation’s history. It is a time to show our patriotism and our love for this great country. Most certainly, these will be events to remember for many years to come.
No matter what the plans are for celebrations, it is also important that we take time to reflect on the many parts of our history that brought us to this historic milestone. It is particularly important that we celebrate, remember, and honor those heroic men and women who served in our armed forces and fought to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.
National Poppy Day® brings us out into our communities to distribute those beautiful little red flowers that are nationally recognized as a symbol of sacrifice. This is also a time for the Legion Family to share Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields, as well as ALA Americanism coloring books and poppy bookmarks. National Poppy Day this year is particularly significant because it gives our Legion Family — especially our Juniors and young Sons members — a special time to be visible in our communities as we honor our fallen heroes.
Memorial Day this year should take on even more special meaning as it provides Americans with a sacred opportunity to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by military servicemembers who died defending our freedoms throughout more than two centuries of American history. Whether participating in local community parades, visiting military graves with floral tributes, or observing quiet moments of reflection during Memorial Day weekend, every act of remembrance contributes to preserving the legacy of American military sacrifice.
An event like the semiquincentennial is also a rare opportunity to share our own rich history with those in our communities. Our young members might take on a project showing how other milestones in our U.S. history were observed, especially focusing on The American Legion Family and things we did as an organization to celebrate those events. How did Americans celebrate our 200th birthday? There are lots of people still around who could be interviewed for their recollections of that special event. Since there are not likely many Americans who were there to celebrate our 150th birthday, our young members might do some research and share that in their schools.
Our July 4 celebrations this anniversary year will be written into the history books for generations that come after us to take note of our patriotism and our solemn pride in this great nation. We are creating a piece of history with every speech, every party, and every parade. Enjoy every minute of this historic occasion. Celebrate with family, friends, and fellow Auxiliary members. Join with members of the Legion Family in honoring our past and celebrating our future! Celebrate our freedom and remember those who fought for it!
In the spirit of Service, Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
