By: Michael Leader, Executive Chairman
July 4th has become synonymous with fireworks, cookouts and a long weekend. While those things are always the sign of a good time, for me, this year during the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence the focus has shifted to that of reflection. I think of how we are all uniquely contributing to the nation’s history and our local communities, acknowledging our nation’s past, appreciating freedoms we enjoy today and ultimately celebrating the Spirit of US.
This theme has been embraced by all our campus communities to remind us that we all play a role in how history is written. The Spirit of US is in the courage demonstrated by our veterans. It is in the prayers of the mothers whose children are currently stationed abroad. It’s in the dedicated volunteers who faithfully serve at their polling places every election day and even in the small voices of the scout troops and school groups who visit our campuses and are the future leaders of our country.
The Spirit of US includes our co-workers in the military reserves who dedicate their time and focus outside of work preparing for when they may be called upon to serve. Additionally, we have residents who are widows or spouses of veterans who proudly wear pins and hats honoring their loved ones’ branch of service. Some of our residents are activists and work with social justice causes striving to make the world a better, kinder and gentler place.
It is important to recognize this is a trying time for many, and the political landscape is hard to ignore. That is why it has been important for our campuses’ America 250th celebrations to highlight that every day is an opportunity to learn from each other and commemorate the beautiful diversity and inclusion that our campuses bring to Pennsylvania and Maryland.
As a history enthusiast, I keep marveling about the various areas of our states that have been the sites of significant historical developments in the past 250 years—areas that are right in the backyard of our campus communities. For example: did you know that during the Revolutionary War, the Liberty Bell was secretly transported to Allentown and hidden in the floorboards of a church? Or that the Monocacy River, a short distance from our Frederick, Md. campus, was a battle site for the Civil War? Also of note, our Mechanicsburg community is located on Sporting Hill Road, named for the Battle of Sporting Hill where the Union and Confederate forces clashed in the northernmost part of the Gettysburg Campaign in the Civil War.
York, Pa. (home to two of our campuses) served as the temporary capital of the United States from Sept. 1777 to June 1778 while the British occupied Philadelphia. Then in 1810, the legislature formally designated Harrisburg as the Pennsylvania state capital, and the first capitol building was dedicated in January 1822— just four miles from our not-for-profit community, Ecumenical Retirement Community. The building was deemed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as the “handsomest building I ever saw.”
And shaping history today, there are training bases near our Hershey and Frederick campuses that are actively preparing our military leaders. History happened and is happening all around us.
This weekend will certainly see its fair share of cookouts, fireworks, sparklers—July 4th traditions that bring us all together and are fun ways to acknowledge the special holiday. However, I hope we all also bring a spirit of gratitude into the celebration.
While no country is perfect, ours is certainly made up of strong, persistent and passionate individuals who have helped America reach this milestone. Personally, I am also proud of the legacy and morals my father demonstrated during his time as Pennsylvania’s Governor and how he founded Country Meadows and Ecumenical rooted in the principles of compassion, respect, integrity and quality—all traits that embody Spirit of US.