Welcome Remarks Independence Day Ceremony

Good morning!

Happy Independence Day!!  It’s great to see you here today on the 248th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

This is my second 4th of July as Archivist of the United States, and I’m thrilled to be here with you!

I want to thank Allison Seymour for graciously joining us again this year as emcee. It’s become a great tradition!

As we celebrate our independence this morning, I want to take a moment to reflect on the document we are here to celebrate today.

You know, we have thirteen and a half billion documents in the National Archives, and the Declaration of Independence is my favorite. 

Now, we all know that the Declaration is the document that created the United States - it asserted our separation from Great Britain as a new, sovereign nation.

Despite its title, the Declaration does a lot more than declaring our independence - and that’s why I love it so much.

Most importantly, it declares that all humans are created equal and that everyone possesses individual rights that cannot be taken away.

These statements contained in the Declaration are self-evident, as Jefferson wrote, but they are not self-executing.

The responsibility of making sure our nation lives up to these ideals is not the job of politicians. Rather, it’s our job as citizens of a democracy.

So as we come together on this 4th of July in our nation’s capital, let’s do two things.

First, let’s celebrate the progress we have made in fulfilling the promises contained in the Declaration of Independence. 

From Seneca Falls to Selma, we have claimed our rights in the pursuit of a more perfect union. It has not been easy. But we are a more just and equal nation because of these struggles.

John Adams famously wrote to his wife Abigail that our independence should be celebrated with “Pomp and Parade” with “Games, Sports . . . Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other, from this Time forward, forever more.” 

Now, I don’t know about a bonfire, but we will certainly celebrate here today!

Secondly, in addition to our celebration, I challenge everyone here to think about how we can continue the journey begun by Thomas Jefferson and our founders. 

Why is this important?

Because the hard work of democracy is never over. We can never become complacent when it comes to the pursuit and protection of our God-given rights. 

And while it’s important to declare those rights proudly as we will today when we listen to the Declaration read out loud, we need to stand behind them, as well.

Now, as I said at the beginning of my remarks, today is America’s 248th birthday. That means we have a big one coming up in only two years!

As we prepare for our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, I can share today that the motto we have selected for our celebration across the National Archives is Declaration250!  

As the home of the Declaration, we will be celebrating the ideals of equality and liberty enshrined in it, commemorating 250 years of resilience and the pursuit of happiness.

We will be announcing an entire year’s worth of events, discussions, and activities soon. And the good news is that you’re all invited!

Now, I am honored to welcome the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, JoAnne Bass as our keynote speaker today.

Chief Bass served over three decades in the United States Air Force. She deployed for Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, and in 2020 she became the first woman in our nation’s history to be appointed as the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in any branch of the U.S. military.

Congratulations on your accomplishments and unique place in the history of our Armed Services. In today’s ever-changing world, we face countless challenges at home and abroad. Your leadership was both indispensable and inspirational.

Chief Bass, I’m honored you chose to join us today and thank you for your service!

Please join me in welcoming JoAnne Bass.