Proclamation
Honoring
United States Semiquincentennial
250 Years of Independence
WHEREAS, July 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the United States was founded on the revolutionary principles proclaimed in the Declaration that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”; and WHEREAS, these principles are the heritage of all Americans, regardless of ethnicity, national origin, religion, or political affiliation; and
WHEREAS, it is right and proper that citizens and residents of Orange County should be encouraged to commemorate and celebrate the historical ideals and aspirations embodied in the Declaration, and to reflect on the origin of the City of Orange, its history, and contributions to the development of California and the United States; and WHEREAS, the 250th anniversary celebration provides a community-wide effort to equip our citizens and residents to engage in the civic life of their community and to listen to and learn from our history and each other to make a lasting impact for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, USA250-OC was formed to engage all Orange Countians in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on our founding principles and shared heritage, celebrate our achievements, look to our future, and collectively work towards a more perfect union; and WHEREAS, USA250-OC engages Orange Countians through a dynamic website and robust social media; serves as a comprehensive resource with access to a broad range of historical resources; develops strategic partnerships with cities, civic organizations and others; is a catalyst for stimulating creativity and integrating experiences of all Orange Countians; inspires by building a sense of community; and provides significant programs focusing on our American founding and beyond; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Daniel R. Slater, Mayor of the City of Orange , and the entire City Council, do hereby recognize July 4 th 2026 as the 250 th anniversary of the foundation of our great nation, celebrating two-and-a- half centuries of the land of liberty, freedom, innovation and unlimited potential.
DATED this 29th day of June 2026.
Daniel R. Slater, Mayor
Arianna Barrios, Councilmember
Kathy Tavoularis, Councilmember
Ana Gutierrez, Councilmember
Jon Dumitru, Councilmember
Denis Bilodeau, Mayor pro tem
John Gyllenhammer, Councilmember