As the United States of America nears its 250th celebration in 2026 the Commonwealth and the country have taken the first steps in the planning of that celebration with the planting of Liberty Trees.
During the earliest stages of the American Revolution “Liberty Trees”, also known as Elm Trees, were planted in protest of British rule. The most famous tree, located in Boston, was destroyed less than a year before a single revolutionary battle was fought or the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
The birthplace of American democracy, Pennsylvania, was the first state in the country where every county government passed a resolution to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in July in 2026. Now, through the organization America 250PA Liberty Trees will be planted across the Commonwealth.
Congressman Mike Kelly spoke at the dedication for the Butler Tree located at Moraine State Park Monday afternoon. Kelly calls this ceremony a passing of the baton of democracy.
“The only way any of this stuff continues into the future is by us doing what we are doing today, what the lodge is doing today,” said Kelly. “My greatest fear is that in any relay race the only success is when you hand it off to the next generation and what does that generation do when they grab the baton.”
Kelly, 76, also said he doesn’t expect to be alive in another 250 years as they continue to celebrate American democracy.
The FreeMasons are the statewide sponsors for America 250PA in all 67 counties. They have been a large part of American Democracy. It’s alleged over half the signers of the declaration of independence were freemasons. Their history is rooted in revolution and the community.
County Commissioner Kim Geyer had a grandfather who was a freemason and she knows the history of Freemasons in the community but now she knows how it all comes together.
“They have always been a part of supporting the community and community service projects, they’ve always been very service oriented and giving back,” said Geyer. “To hear the rest of that history and tie it together to the sons of liberty and the freedom we have today was wonderful to hear today.”
America 250PA is not just celebrating the past of the longest reigning democracy but also learning about the future.
Cassandra Coleman is the Executive Director of America 250PA, she sees this celebration as a way to honor the past but also see the future.
“This commission is a commission rooted in history but we want to learn from that history, we want to truly embrace where we are now with our present but most importantly we want to reimagine our future.”
In the Commonwealth, there have already been 20 to 25 trees planted with trees being planted seasonally, with the expectation trees will be planted in all 67 counties by July 2026.
For more information you can go to America250PA.org for more information on the 250th celebration.
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