SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley held a community picnic at Balford Park Saturday morning to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Mayor Laura Padden said the milestone deserves recognition.
“We are celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America. It’s really something to celebrate. It’s one of the greatest political and governmental experiments of all time,” Padden said. “We also need to take a look to see where we can improve, but just like your own birthday, you celebrate that you made it another year.”
Members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution wore clothing from the 1700s and provided educational activities.
Doug Jonas, a Sons of the American Revolution member, said education is their main goal.
“One of our pillars is education. So when they start asking questions, I like to think of it as planting the seed,” Jonas said. “We have games, informational packets, comic books and stuff for them to read. It’s what we really like to do is get them interested in history.”
The event included live music and local vendors. Mayor Padden said community involvement is essential for democracy to work.
“We are a government of the people, for the people, by the people. So that’s us. That’s everybody in the community,” Padden said. “And if they don’t participate then the system doesn’t work. So we need to engage and they need to be well educated in our history.”
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