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Mayor Sam Josi, community mark U.S. 250th anniversary at Danish Home in Edison
Summary
Community members gathered at the Danish Home in Edison on July 4 for a semiquincentennial ceremony that opened with a prayer, included patriotic remarks invoking Revolutionary-era sacrifices and veterans, a brief history of an on-site bell, and remarks from Mayor Sam Josi.
A community ceremony at the Danish Home in Edison on July 4 marked the United States’ 250th anniversary with an opening prayer, patriotic reflections and brief remarks from Mayor Sam Josi.
The event opened with a prayer delivered by the Presenter, who asked for protection of the nation and gave thanks for independence on the country’s 250th birthday. The Presenter closed the prayer with two "Amen" responses.
In remarks that followed, the Presenter framed the semiquincentennial with a recent sports anecdote about U.S. player Jack Hughes, saying that after being knocked to the ice and losing teeth Hughes "less than 25 minutes later ... scored the golden goal" and that the moment was a metaphor for American resilience. The Presenter said, quoting Hughes, "We're USA. We're so proud to be Americans. Tonight was for all the country." The Presenter also reviewed Revolutionary War hardships, saying that "nine of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence died while fighting," that a number had homes looted or burned, and that others were taken prisoner — remarks intended to underscore the sacrifices behind independence.
The Presenter cited the American Legion and quoted National Commander Dan Riley on the importance of educating future generations to preserve veterans' legacies: "educating future generations about our nation's history is the most tangible method to keep the sacrifices and legacies of veterans alive." He also invoked Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg words and read passages echoing the Constitution's preamble, emphasizing liberty, the common defense and the general welfare.
Later in the program a Staff member provided a brief history of a bell on the Danish Home grounds, saying it was cast in 1900 in Troy, New York, for Saint Stephen's Danish Church in Perth Amboy and was moved to the Danish Home after the church was dismantled. The Staff member introduced Mayor Sam Josi to address attendees.
Mayor Sam Josi said it was "truly an honor and privilege to serve" on the 250th anniversary and thanked the recreation department and members of the Danish Home for organizing the event. Josi praised the depth of local Danish culture and said the borough seeks to "continue and preserve our legacy" while looking ahead to the next 250 years.
The ceremony emphasized local heritage, veterans' sacrifices and community service as part of broader semiquincentennial observances and concluded after brief remarks and acknowledgements.
