Shaheen, Hassan Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary at New Hampshire State House

(Concord, NH) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial?Commission , and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today celebrated the founding of the United States of America and marked the nation’s semiquincentennial at the New Hampshire 250th Independence Day Celebration at the state house in Concord. Photos from today’s event can be found HERE . “The women who were working the farms, the men who marched off to fight, [...] none of them knew how the fight against Britain would end. They simply believed that the future was worth betting on. And today, as we know, the legislature still meets behind us in the oldest continuously operating capitol in the country, but the greatest measure of what they built isn't behind us. It's right here, it’s in front of us. It is all of you, on this lawn, all of the families, all of the citizens of this country who are celebrating today. Free people, still governing ourselves, 250 years later,” Senator Shaheen said in prepared remarks. “America has endured for 250 years because generation after generation of Americans chose to stand up for freedom and move our country forward. It’s an honor to commemorate this milestone in the heart of the Live Free or Die State,” said Senator Hassan . “All of us must continue to build a stronger, more perfect Union and protect the freedoms that generations of Americans have fought to defend.” The ceremony marked Shaheen’s final Fourth of July celebration as New Hampshire’s senior senator. Shaheen and Hassan were joined by state officials, including Mayor of Concord Byron Champlin, State Senate President Sharon Carson, State House Speaker Sherman Packard, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald and Secretary of State David Scanlan. Shaheen was appointed to serve on the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016 by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. In 2023, she championed legislation to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to create a time capsule as part of the nation’s planned Semiquincentennial celebration and have it buried on the west lawn of the Capitol, to remain sealed until July 4, 2276, the nation’s 500th Anniversary. Last week, Shaheen delivered remarks at the unveiling of the time capsule. ###