Ushering in America's Semiquincentennial Year

Just past the stroke of midnight in New York’s Times Square, the celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday, which officially began on Memorial Day 2025, continued. Following the traditional midnight countdown and the iconic Times Square Ball Drop, another momentous event occurred. The Times Square Ball was relit in a red, white, and blue America250 design and rose above the illuminated numerals 2026. The moment included a video “America Turns 250,” a release of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti, and a festive fireworks finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Bea...