Washington Celebrates Declaration of Independence’s Anniversary

Washington Primary School celebrated America’s 250th birthday throughout the day on Monday, June 15. Classes engaged in various activities. Officially labeled “Represent USA Day: America’s Birthday Party,” students had fun preparing for the best event, which is tied into the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“We gathered on the blacktop for a ‘birthday party,’” Principal Michelle Richards said. “Third grade Washington Winners presented the history of the American flag. Each grade sang a patriotic song.

Kindergarteners performed “God Bless America.” First graders sang “America the Beautiful.” Second graders performed “This Land is Your Land; Third grader sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The celebration concluded with Stevie Wonder’s electrifying version of “ Happy Birthday.” “Each Washington Winner lined the front of the school with their flag,” Dr. Richards said.

Celebrated author Walter Issacson has called a line from the Declaration of Independence to be the greatest sentence ever written: “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.”

According to the Mount Vernon (George Washington’s estate) website, “On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to dissolve the connection between “this country” and Great Britain, declaring the “United Colonies of North American” to be free and independent states. Congress ratified the text of the Declaration on July 4 and it reach the King of England six months later.”