Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson's Statement on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America
DALLAS-Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson on Saturday released the following statement on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America:
"Today, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, I have never been prouder to be both an American and a Dallasite. This is a country where someone like me can grow up in a working class family in a long-neglected part of Dallas and go on to have the honor of serving as mayor of the greatest city in the greatest nation on earth.
"Two hundred and fifty years ago today, an indomitable group of patriots made the audacious decision to separate from the most powerful empire in the world and form an independent nation founded on what were at that time truly revolutionary ideals: that no man is entitled to lordship over another and that all people are endowed by God with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, that new nation conceived in liberty stands stronger than ever and continues to shine as a beacon of freedom. And in the two and a half centuries following those patriots' Declaration of Independence, their once revolutionary ideals have taken hold throughout the world and are the aspiration of countless people and nations.
"I am proud to lead a city that embodies at its very core America's founding belief that every person ought to have the freedom and opportunity to determine his or her own destiny. Dallas is a city where hard work and determination matter more than where you come from, and where success is within reach of everyone willing to pursue it. Two hundred and fifty years after America's birth, Dallas exemplifies the American dream more than anyplace else.
"As we honor our nation's history, we must also look toward its future and recognize what our Founding Fathers rightly understood: that liberty cannot be taken for granted. We must actively fight to defend it, to preserve it, and to pass it on to each new generation.
"May God continue to bless the United States of America!"
Mayor Johnson also issued an official proclamation recognizing the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The text of the proclamation can be read below:
WHEREAS, On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring the thirteen American colonies as a new, independent nation; On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding; and
WHEREAS, On this day, communities across America are pausing to reflect upon our nation's extraordinary journey, honor the generations of Americans who have shaped our history, and renew our commitment to a brighter future for those yet to come; and
WHEREAS, Dallas is commemorating America's 250th anniversary with a variety of events across the city, including Independence Day celebrations at Fair Park and Klyde Warren Park; and
WHEREAS, The City of Dallas is proudly displaying a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Hall of State at Fair Park, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to experience our nation's founding document and reflect on its enduring principles of liberty; and
WHEREAS, Throughout 2026, the Dallas Public Library is hosting "250 Years of Us: Reading America's Past, Writing Our Future," which invites residents to celebrate America's 250th anniversary through educational programs, historical exploration, and the "Amazing Race for Independence" activity challenge; and
WHEREAS, Dallas exemplifies the values of America's founding more than any other city and embodies at its very core the belief that every person ought to have the freedom and opportunity to determine his or her own destiny; and
WHEREAS, The City of Dallas proudly joins in the nationwide observance of America's 250th anniversary, celebrating the people, stories, and ideals that have shaped our nation while recommitting to the promise of freedom for generations yet to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, do hereby recognize Saturday, July 4, 2026, as the
250TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE FOUNDING OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
in Dallas, Texas.
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