What thoughts and emotions did America's 250th anniversary evoke? Waynesboro citizens share their reflections
During the July 4th weekend, at the parade, 5K race, picnics, and by text, The Daily Boro asked Waynesboro citizens a single question: What does America’s 250th anniversary mean to you?
Tom: Waynesboro has been part of our lives for the last 50 years. This town has been an important part of American history. Geiser, Frick, Landis Tool, and Landis Machine- they all supported the war efforts and helped build the farming community with their products. Waynesboro has contributed to America’s success and prosperity over the last 250 years.
Lil: My family goes back to Fort Stover, built locally in 1754 to protect pioneer settlers during the French and Indian War. It is incredible to think that our history transcends the Declaration of Independence.
Mike: I love my country, and I’m proud to be an American. The USA isn’t perfect, but nothing is. I pursue my patriotism like it’s a friendship or a marriage. I cherish the good traits, and when difficult issues need addressed, I’m willing to discuss and resolve them. Like anything worth doing well, America will always be a work in progress. We have to keep tinkering with it to honor what our first patriots foresaw. A country where men and women are created equal. A nation where everyone enjoys human rights and dignity.
Diane: When I’m out at an event, seeing people get along and forgetting their political differences, I’m hopeful for America’s future. We have to live together and remember that this country is a home for all of us, not just some of us. We have to be kind to each other. We have to be respectful and accept our differences. That’s what America is built on- it’s a country of many different ideas created by a diverse group of people.
Seth: It’s a time to celebrate our individuality as a nation and what we’ve accomplished in 250 years. As tough as times can be in America, compared to the majority of human history, we have it really good in this country. We have freedoms that others don’t enjoy and are still able to have an open dialogue. We have a lot to be thankful for. I think it’s important to reflect on that and not take it for granted.
Joan: America has done so many great things during its 250-year history, and we have the fortitude to do much more. I love the freedoms that allow us to do whatever we want. This is the greatest country in the world, and I’m blessed to live in it.
Matt: When I think of the 4th, I think of my father. A man who spent 30 years in the Air Force. A man who embodied what we are supposed to think about as Americans, yet a living person in front of me. He stood for timeliness, integrity, work ethic, education, and honor in everything you put your effort into. He was from rural South Dakota, grew up on a small farm in poverty, loved his country, did two tours in Vietnam, and lived a life preserving American ideals. A good man, an honorable man. That’s what the 4th means to me. To honor a man who eventually gave all, but man, he was my dad!
Sally: As we celebrate our independence, let’s not forget that reaching 250 years is due to the people who came before us and those currently fighting for our freedom. The parades, banners, picnics, block parties, and fireworks that bring us together would not exist without others’ sacrifices. Despite our political differences, it’s the responsibility of each of us to carry the torch for 250 more years and to be the example of pride in the phrase “the land of the free and home of the brave.”
Greg: Waynesboro was a great town to grow up in. I went off to college and spent a few years away but then decided to come back here to raise my family. That was a good decision, and on days like today, being here at the parade, it reinforces my admiration for community and country.
Sharon: Celebrating 250 years since the beginning of our beautiful country caused me to pause, to read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in years. I re-recognized the brilliance and courage of our founders planning not only their break from tyranny but the thoughtful and expandable new government system that sustains us to this day. I feel lucky to be an American.
Ritchie: I keep thinking about the 200th anniversary in 1976. I was 15 and surrounded by my uncles and grandfather who fought in World War II. My Dad later served during the Korean War. The 200th united us, and I was proud to be an American. Now I miss my Dad, grandfather, and uncles. I miss their optimism. I’m still proud to be an American, but I find myself more concerned about the future for my grandkids and our country.
Larry: Three of our Founding Fathers on Mount Rushmore were surveyors who today would see tremendous progress in technology and civil engineering.
Tracy: I have gratitude for the nation our forebears established, recognition of the duties we have to protect the freedoms then enshrined and hopes for unity in moving the nation into the future with liberty and justice for all.
Andrew: We’re a good group of people, but we have a lot of growing to do. I’m still impressed when I see immigrants who want to come here to live and work. I think that says a lot about our country.
Cathy: Growing up in Waynesboro, I remember the bicentennial in ’76. I was in the parade. Now I have kids, and they’re running in the race today. So it’s neat to be part of another milestone in our country’s history. I’m sure my kids will feel the same when the next big anniversary comes around when they’re older. That’s what life is about- making memories.
Brad: America’s 250th means being part of a community and having the freedom to spend time with people you care about, while feeling safe. Waynesboro is home. I’m fortunate to live here and don’t want to be anywhere else.
Tina: It’s an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve created, what we have to protect, and how we can all be unified in that endeavor.
Robb: Walking down Main Street, I’m inspired by the new America 250 banners that celebrate our country’s history. They remind me that the USA has led the world in technological innovations and cultural advancements for many decades. We put a man on the moon and invented Rock and Roll. But those achievements weren’t simply a national story; many of them began in places like Waynesboro. We have much to be proud of here. America starts with us, and our community will help write the country’s next chapters. The 250th makes me grateful that Waynesboro is my hometown.
Deb: To me, the 250th symbolizes freedom and all that’s right about our country. Waynesboro is a wonderful place to live and bring up kids and grandkids. I didn’t grow up here, but now this feels like where I belong. Days like today bring those feelings to the surface, and that makes me happy.
Richard: It’s a good day to reflect on the community and our place within the country as a whole. There’s a lot of havoc in national politics, but we always seem to get through it. The USA has faced all sorts of challenges over the years, and I suspect the future will be no different. But I think America will continue to be a force for good around the world, and I hope my prediction is right.
Photographs by Robb Helfrick. All subjects from Waynesboro in 2026