Presidents & First Ladies join national effort to celebrate and commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States
Today, America250 announced that President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, President Barack Obama, and Mrs. Michelle Obama will serve as Honorary National Co-Chairs of the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
As Honorary Co-Chairs, President and Mrs. Bush and President and Mrs. Obama will lend their voices to the nationwide effort to mark this historic milestone.
The participation of these two Presidents and First Ladies in this initiative, who collectively led the country through the first 16 years of the 21st century, shows a continued dedication to service and commitment to their country.
“As America prepares for our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are proud to serve our country once again as Honorary National Co-Chairs of America250,” said President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. “This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on our history and recommit to our country’s founding values. We look forward to working with America250 and our fellow citizens to celebrate the goodness and greatness of the United States of America.”
“America is not the same country it was 250 years ago — but there are threads that tie us back to the very beginning of it all,” said President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama. “Our history plays a big role in shaping the kind of future we hope to create. That’s why we could not be more thrilled to serve as Honorary National Co-Chairs of America250. We look forward to celebrating the Semiquincentennial and sharing the remarkable stories that make our nation the place it is today."
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama to the America250 family,” said America250 Chair Rosie Rios, who served as Treasurer of the United States from 2009 to 2016. “As Presidents and First Ladies of the United States, their stories are foundational to the American story. We hope that their unique voices will help encourage everyone to participate in this pivotal commemoration.”
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress in 2016 to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The nonpartisan Commission, chaired by former Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios, is comprised of bipartisan members of congress and private citizens and is working with America250.org - the nonprofit supporting organization - to engage Americans across the country in designing the largest and most inclusive anniversary in our nation’s history. America250 continues planning its multi-year-long commemorative activities leading up to the Semiquincentennial, engaging all 50 states and 6 U.S. territories, the private sector, and national and community-based organizations to achieve our mission.
Most recently, America250 announced Our American Story, a national effort to compile the largest oral history and understanding of the United States. This July America250 opened up nominations for all Americans to share their thoughts on whose stories should be recorded and preserved in perpetuity. In March, America250 launched America’s Field Trip — a nationwide scholastic contest that encourages students to reflect on what America means to them for the chance to earn behind-the-scenes field trip experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites. In its pilot year, America250 received thousands of incredible submissions from students around the country and recently announced the 75 first-place awardees from 27 states. This fall, America250 will debut its next national programming effort called America Gives, a multi-year effort focused on reinvigorating year-round service by focusing on three key pillars: charitable giving, volunteer service, and public service - which includes military service.
About America250
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its nonprofit supporting organization, America250.org, Inc. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Until July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. To learn more, visit America250.org, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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"As Presidents and First Ladies of the United States, their stories are foundational to the American story. We hope that their unique voices will help encourage everyone to participate in this pivotal commemoration."
