Findlay invited to America250 celebration

FINDLAY — The city of Findlay has been invited to become an America250 Community by the Ohio Commission of the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebration. The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress in 2016 to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which is July 4, 2026. At today's regular meeting, Findlay City Council will be asked to pass a resolution of support agreeing to join the festivities by showcasing the city's own story, from the founding of Fort Findlay to the present day. Council meets at 6 p.m. today in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. The resolution will establish a local America 250-Findlay Committee which will work with the state commission to coordinate activities within Findlay. The goal is to create a diverse group of volunteer citizens to help with the celebration. The local committee will serve as a point of contact for all local organizations wanting to participate in the celebration. The 29-member, nonpartisan state commission was formed by the Ohio General Assembly and Gov. Mike DeWine to prepare Ohio to participate in the anniversary celebration. "This multi-year effort is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation's past, honor the contributions of all Americans and look ahead toward the future we want to create," said Mayor Christina Muryn in a letter to council, dated May 15. "We look forward to working with community partners to celebrate the story of Findlay, from the fort that founded us, to the people that make up our community today," she said. The national commission is working with America250.org, Inc. to engage Americans across the country in designing the largest and most inclusive anniversary observance in the nation's history, according to the website. Former U.S. treasurer Rosie Rios chairs the nonpartisan commission. "America's 250th anniversary is about more than reflecting on our past, it's about honoring the contributions of individuals who built this country, the innovations that put this country on the map and a man on the moon, and imagining what the next 250 years might look like for our children and the generations to come," said Rios.