CLEARFIELD – I remember our country’s Bicentennial celebration way back in 1976. Everyone had some way to mark the occasion.
CBS did special history spots before their prime time programming each night, called Bicentennial Minutes that featured celebrities reminding us of our heritage.
Locally, WTAJ-TV had school children submit essays for their local version of the Bicentennial Minutes that aired at 7:00 p.m.
I remember this vividly because I was one of the students who won and appeared on the channel. I wrote about Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone. (My spot, for some unknown reason, actually aired three times. My Dad joked that I was on television more than Lucille Ball.)
Many products also marked the occasion. I remember collecting special 7Up cans, trying to get all 50 states which, when put together, formed a giant Uncle Sam.
On July 4, 1976, I watched as hundreds of ships from all over the world sailed into New York’s harbor.
Many memories were made that year and now it is almost time for our Semiquincentennial.
The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial or America250PA was actually established in 2018 to help coordinate the celebration for all 57 counties.
“America250PA hopes to engage all citizens of the Commonwealth, from all 67 counties, bring the Commonwealth’s history into the conversation so Pennsylvanians can better understand the origins and multiple perspectives of issues facing our Commonwealth & nation today, use history to encourage and inspire future leaders, celebrate the contributions of Pennsylvanians to our Commonwealth’s history but also to our Nation’s history, leave a lasting impact on the next generation and to spark an interest in which will ignite the drive for them to appreciate all the triumphs, trials and tribulations to which contributed to the Commonwealth for which they are now writing their own history,” it says on their website.
Among the activities is the planting of a “Liberty Tree” in each county. In Clearfield County, the tree was planted in Osceola Mills on May 10.
Each PA County will also get a replica of the Liberty Bell.
Local artists are being sought to design how the Clearfield County Liberty Bell, will be painted, according to Visit Clearfield County’s Travel Development Specialist, Brandy Owens.
Artists need to submit their designs to Harrisburg for approval. There is a stipend available for the winning entries, she said.
A collectible commemorative booklet listing events for both 2025 and 2026 is in the works.
Every community is encouraged to get involved by sending VCC information on their local celebrations.
Another interesting item is a special three tiered birthday cake made out of wood. Brandy herself is “baking it” because she is a “carpenter’s daughter,” she explained but she will accept any help she can get.
The cake will then appear in all the local parades this year and the next. First up is DuBois Community Days this June.
If you want to make sure your town is included, just contact her at 814-765-5734 or email a250paclearfieldcounty@visitclearfieldcounty.org.
“We can bring the 250 celebration to your event,” she stated.
The task of overseeing all these birthday plans is falling to the VCC but it is being aided by a special committee of 15 people from all areas of the county.
The committee is also working on a special t-shirt for the celebration. VCC is taking design submissions from elementary students to be featured on the shirts.
One special activity for the whole family is a History Trail which will include 15 major landmarks in the county.
“When people finish, they get prizes,” she said.
As we get closer to 2026, more and more national, state and local experiences commemorating our country’s birth will be scheduled.
Already, on the anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride overnight on April 18 and 19, 1775, people were encouraged to place two lights in their windows.
“Two Lights for Tomorrow” used “the imagery of that shining light 250 years ago as a uniting call to action today for our fellow citizens, no matter where they are, to commemorate and remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow.”
In DuBois, the Susquehanna Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently dedicated a beautiful memorial garden as a tribute to our patriots. If you want to see it, it is located at the Dubois American Legion Park near the artillery gun.
To follow all the local 250th birthday celebrations, check out the Facebook page, America 250 PA Clearfield County.
