BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA —Local officials and community members gathered at Southern Union State Community College on Thursday, June 18, to celebrate America 250, highlighting history, contributions and the courage of the founding fathers.
The winner of the SUSCC America 250 Photo Contest was displayed as attendees entered, among three other submissions.
President of SUSCC Todd Shackett welcomed those in attendance and said he is excited to recognize the freedom offered because of America’s independence.
“What we’re here to do is commemorate our 250th birthday or anniversary of our independence, acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, which was our official proclamation declaration to separate ourselves as the 13 colonies from the leadership and rule of the British Empire,” he said. “Most notable in that for me was that it was established based on human rights, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Second to that is the concept that we are a government of the people, that the government is accountable to us as citizens and not the other way around. And those are the fabric of where we live today.”
SUSCC student Karson Hester led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance, and SUSCC alumna Lauren Fuller sang the “National Anthem.”
Dr. Frederick James, SUSCC Biology Instructor, said as a Baptist pastor, he was asked to talk about the founding of America and how it related to religion and Christianity.
“One of the great founding principles of America is the separation of church and state, the freedom of religion,” he said. “The fact that in this nation, and part of what’s made the nation great, is that we have the privilege and the ability to worship as we desire… Part of the greatness of the nation, as it relates to religious freedom, is that we let all these somewhat small things come together and make this nation great.”
Brent Catchings, SUSCC Social Sciences Instructor, shared a historical overview of July 4, 1776.
“In 1776, the Declaration did more than announce a separation from Britain; it proclaimed revolutionary ideas,” he said. “‘We hold, these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ It asserts rights that came not from kings or governments, but from God, our creator. It declared that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed of the people, those words would become some of the most influential in human history, not just American.
“President Ronald Reagan once described America this way: ‘You can go to live in France, but you can’t become a Frenchman, you can go to live in Germany, but you can’t become a German, but anyone from any corner of the Earth can come to America and become an American. America is not united by ancestry alone; it’s more than a place, it’s our ideals, the beliefs in life and liberty and opportunity, self-government, pride in America and where we were from.’”
SUSCC Social Sciences Instructor Lee Buford invited four attendees to participate in an American Trivia game.
Chief Education and Programs Officer/Chief Historian for the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama Val Crofts was the keynote speaker for the event and shared his passion for America 250 as Alabama 250 co-chair of the education committee and an America 250 commissioner.
“As we’re coming up on this anniversary, being here with you is what I imagined this would be when we were all named to The National Commission,” he said. “I’m going to talk about what they’re going to do and the national plans, but the grassroots plans, like these events like this, are what we really hope are where the memories come from.”
Crofts shared notable historic moments surrounding America’s independence and the freedom that it created for Americans today.
“On Sept. 17, the Continental Army held off the British in the Battle of Harlem Heights, which is actually a rare Colonial victory at that time,” he said. “On Sept. 22, Nathan Hale was executed and he famously said, ‘I regret I have but one life to give for my country.’”
SUSCC PR Director Shondae Brown thanked those in attendance for coming and the speakers for taking the time to come and educate locals.
