Johnny Cash waved to the crowd from the rumble seat of a 1936 Packard convertible.
It was July 3, 1976, and the people of the United States were celebrating the 200th anniversary of our nation's independence from Great Britain. The bicentennial celebration lasted throughout that year, with a 21-month tour by the Freedom Train, a rolling patriotic museum. Elaborate fireworks displays were held across the nation. An international fleet of more than 200 tall-mast sailing ships gathered in New York City. NASA unveiled the first space shuttle on Constitution Day. George Washington was posthumously appointed general of the armies of the United States, and Johnny Cash served as grand marshal of the U.S. Bicentennial Parade in Washington, D.C.
While the festivities surrounding the bicentennial were enjoyable, the most important thing to me as I look back on that time is the sense of patriotism and togetherness we displayed in 1976.
The mid-1970s weren't the highest point for our nation. We had suffered the loss of Saigon and saw our president resign amid scandal. The effects of the oil embargo were still felt. Despite all this, or maybe because of it, Americans banded together to learn about and to celebrate our Founding Fathers, our history and our national identity. We reaffirmed our belief in the ideals that make America great, and in our cohesion as a nation.
I see parallels between then and now. We're coming off the heels of COVID. Inflation is hurting everyone's pocketbook. Our national politics are more fractured and contentious than at any time I can remember. The nation seems divided.
During the last year or so, I have been working on a bill I hope will bring back some of the solidarity we felt in 1976.
In 2023, we will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of our United States. The term for it is semiquincentennial, although you should get a pass if you can't pronounce it. We've been calling it America 250.
In 2016, Congress passed the Semiquincentennial Act, which provides for commemorative coins, stamps, the commissioning of appropriately named naval vessels and for events in historic locations.
With the help of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution organizations, I have filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 7. This legislation will create the America 250 Missouri Commission, which will plan, promote and implement public celebrations of our nation's 250th anniversary.
This is the first step toward bringing back the national solidarity we experienced in 1976. I think the people of this country still believe in patriotism, in liberty and in freedom. We need to be reminded of it. We need to be reminded that we're all Americans, and this is still the greatest nation on Earth. I hope you all join me in working toward this goal.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th District and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.