America250 Cache County

Our photographer, Tina Lerohl, has created a google drive with all the pictures taken during our "Dancing Through the Decades" Gala event at the Cache Event Center on June 11th. Take a look!

Thank you for making our event a success! We had close to 500 people in attendance! We hope you will continue to celebrate this historic Semiquincentennial year!

Dancing Through the Decades Gala 250 - Google Drive https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cx7RfdS3h3X_ryG_SMnuHi7yCmQSllv3?usp=sharing

America's Time Capsule is officially sealed. 🇺🇸

Inside: contributions from all 56 states and territories, letters from all three branches of government, student artwork and essays, sports memorabilia from the NFL, NBA, NHLL, MLB and PGA, and a Library of Congress molecular DNA device encoding some of the most important documents in American history — including Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence. All of it to be buried July 4 and not opened until 2276.

See what's inside: america250.org/time-capsule/contents

Several events are coming up in Cache County!

This July 4th marks a once-in-a-generation milestone — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Alongside statewide and community partners, Utah cities and counties are planning an array of local events, shared experiences, and reflections to encourage all Utahns to connect with this extraordinary anniversary in meaningful ways that honor Utahns’ contributions to the American story.
With 100+ events happening statewide from June 27–July 5, there’s something for everyone to celebrate, reflect, and enjoy. Take a look at events happening near you and find something fun for your family, friends, or community. 🎆

Explore events: https://america250.utah.gov/celebrate

On June 18th, George Washington wrote his wife, Martha:

"I am now set down to write to you on a subject which fills me with inexpressable concern—& this concern is greatly aggravated & Increased when I reflect on the uneasiness I know it will give you—It has been determined in Congress, that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, & that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the Command of it. You may beleive me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavour in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you & the Family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my Capacity & that I should enjoy more real happiness & felicity in one month with you, at home, than I have the most distant prospect of reaping abroad, if my stay was to be Seven times Seven years. But, as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this Service, I shall hope that my undertaking of it, is designd to answer some good purpose—it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, & given pain to my friends—this I am sure could not, & ought not to be pleasing to you, & must have lessend me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall—I shall feel no pain from the Toil, or the danger of the Campaign—My unhappiness will flow, from the uneasiness I know you will feel at being left alone—I therefore beg of you to summon your whole fortitude & Resolution, & pass your time as agreeably as possible—nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, & to hear it from your own Pen."

Sources:
Letter: founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0003
Washington's appointment: nps.gov/articles/000/washingtoncommission.htm

🇺🇸 Happy Flag Day! Today, we honor the Stars and Stripes and everything our beautiful flag represents.
​But the celebration doesn’t stop today! Join us tomorrow, June 15th, as we keep the patriotic spirit alive right outside the historic Cache County Courthouse.

Go see the field of flags tomorrow!

Happy Flag Day, Cache County! As a special tribute to Flag Day this 250th birthday year, the historic courthouse will be displaying a field of flags tomorrow. If you get the chance, please stop or drive by.

A popular belief is that Elizabeth Griscom, a Philadelphia flag maker who was also known as Betsy Ross, sewed the first “official” flag in June 1776. According to a speech her grandson gave to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania years after her death, George Washington, Robert Morris, & George Ross, visited Ross’ upholstery shop in the summer of 1776. Washington & the two other members of the Continental Congress brought a rough sketch of a flag with thirteen red & white stripes & thirteen six-pointed stars. Ross suggested that the six-pointed stars be changed to five-pointed stars because they were easier to make.

Betsy Ross was born as Elizabeth Griscom on January 1, 1752. She was the eighth of seventeen children, but only about nine survived childhood. Upon finishing her schooling, Ross became an apprentice for the popular upholsterer, John Webster. Ross learned how to make & repair many items, including curtains, tablecloths, bedcovers, & rugs. She became a very skilled seamstress & upholsterer. While working for Webster, she fell in love with another apprentice named John Ross. Betsy &John Ross started their own upholstery business in Philadelphia & became members of Christ Church. Their business was successful, & it is reported that they even made bed hangings for George Washington in 1774. John Ross was also a member of the Pennsylvania militia. After three years of marriage, John Ross passed away. At 24-years-old, Betsy Ross became a widow. She continued to run the upholstery business & worked on uniforms, tents, & flags for the Continental Army. By 1833, she was completely blind, but she continued to tell the story of how she made the first American flag to her children & grandchildren.

Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, claims that he designed the “Stars and Stripes” that was designated as the national flag. There are no surviving illustrations of his design.

Source: battlefields.org/learn/articles/short-history-united-states-flag
womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betsy-ross

Happy Flag Day!

Source: loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-14/
Primary source: loc.gov/resource/llscdam.lljc008/?sp=91&st=pdf&pdfPage=91