Why New Hampshire’s Spirit and Our Founding Principles Matter More Than Ever in 2026
As we prepare to celebrate 250 years of America, from 1776 to 2026, we should remember what this anniversary really means. This is not about politics. It’s about honoring the country that gave generations of Americans freedom, opportunity, and the chance to build a better life.
Our flag is not a partisan symbol. It belongs to all American’s.
It represents the courage of the founders, the sacrifices of our military, the strength of our families, and the promise that America is still worth believing in. Celebrating the 250th anniversary should be bipartisan, because loving your country should never be controversial.
And to those who hate this flag or are disgusted by this country because you dislike President Trump or believe America is nothing but an oppressor nation: that attitude is shameful. It is easy to tear down what you refuse to understand. But contempt for your own country is not bravery. It is disrespectful to the millions of Americans who have fought, served, sacrificed, and built this nation.
America is not perfect, but it is exceptional. And in 2026, we should celebrate that with HONOR!
The Birth of a Nation: 1776 and the Declaration of Independence
Two hundred and fifty years ago, in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer, 56 brave delegates to the Second Continental Congress took a step that changed the course of human history. On July 4, 1776, they adopted the Declaration of Independence—a document that wasn’t just a list of grievances against King George III, but a bold proclamation of timeless principles.
Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, with input from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others, the Declaration proclaimed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Governments, it declared, derive their just powers from the consent of the governed—not from divine right of kings or the whims of tyrants. And when a government becomes destructive of these ends, “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.”
These were radical ideas in a world ruled by monarchs and empires. The Founding Fathers—farmers, lawyers, merchants, and soldiers—risked everything. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, knowing failure meant the hangman’s noose. They weren’t perfect men; they grappled with the contradictions of their time, including slavery. But they set in motion a system of self-government, limited by a Constitution and Bill of Rights, that has lifted more people out of poverty and oppression than any other in history. Their vision created the freest, most prosperous nation the world has ever known.
New Hampshire played a proud role in this founding. Our state was among the first to adopt its own constitution in 1776, emphasizing liberty and self-rule. Granite Staters answered the call to arms, fighting at Bunker Hill and beyond.
New Hampshire’s Enduring Spirit: “Live Free or Die” and John Stark
No phrase captures the soul of New Hampshire—and America—better than our state motto: “Live Free or Die.” These words come from General John Stark, one of New Hampshire’s greatest Revolutionary War heroes.
A rugged leader from Londonderry, Stark fought at Bunker Hill in 1775, where he famously told his men, “There are your enemies, the redcoats and the Tories; they are ours, or this night we are all dead.” Later, at the Battle of Bennington in 1777, his forces delivered a crucial victory that helped turn the tide of the war. In 1809, too ill to attend a reunion of Bennington veterans, Stark sent a toast that would echo through the ages: “Live free or die; Death is not the worst of evils.”
Adopted officially in 1945, these words embody the fierce independence of New Hampshire’s people and the American spirit itself. They remind us that freedom isn’t free—it demands vigilance, courage, and a willingness to stand against tyranny, whether from a distant king or modern threats to liberty. In our backyards, town halls, and statehouse, Granite Staters still live this motto every day—through hard work, community, and a stubborn refusal to bow to overreaching government.
First in the Nation: New Hampshire’s Role in American Democracy
New Hampshire’s commitment to liberty is also why we hold the First in the Nation presidential primary. Since 1920, our state has kicked off the nominating process, a tradition rooted in Yankee frugality (tying it to Town Meeting Day) and a belief in accessible, grassroots democracy.
In a small state where candidates must meet voters face-to-face in diners, living rooms, and factories, the primary tests character and ideas, not just money or media spin. It gives everyday Americans—farmers, coaches, small business owners—a real voice early in the process. This “first” status isn’t about ego; it’s about preserving the revolutionary ideal that government should listen to the people, not elites in far-off capitals. As we mark America’s 250th, New Hampshire continues to model what self-government looks like.
Resilience, Self-Reliance, and the American Way
The Founding Fathers believed in a nation of free individuals, not subjects dependent on the state. They envisioned a society rooted in personal responsibility, hard work, and the pursuit of happiness through one’s own efforts. Capitalism and free markets were central to that vision: they reward innovation, ingenuity, and diligence, lifting entire societies by channeling self-interest into the common good. History proves it—America’s economic engine has created unprecedented prosperity, opportunity, and upward mobility for millions, far surpassing the failures of socialist and communist systems, which have repeatedly led to stagnation, shortages, and tyranny wherever tried.
Yet today, a spoiled elitism pervades parts of our society. Too many expect everything to be handed to them—cradle-to-grave government dependency rather than the self-will and individualism that built this country. This mindset rejects resilience in favor of grievance and victimhood. It fuels the dangerous fiction that America is an inherent oppressor nation, ignoring our unmatched record of expanding liberty and opportunity. The Democrat Socialists of America and their allies openly seek to tear down the very system our Founders envisioned, pushing policies that erode free enterprise and individual liberty.
Ronald Reagan warned us: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” In New Hampshire, we see the antidote alive and well. With our MAHA gardens producing fresh, healthy food from the soil, our schools empowered by enacted Education Freedom Account laws that expand school choice and parental rights for all families, and our communities rallying around family and faith, we reject dependency and embrace the resilience that defines the Granite State and America itself.
Patriotism isn’t blind nationalism. It’s a deep appreciation for what our ancestors sacrificed and a determination to pass it on stronger.
Why Patriotism Matters Today
Two hundred and fifty years later, the threats may look different—cultural division, economic pressures, ideological attacks on our founding principles—but the stakes are the same. We face voices that paint America as irredeemably flawed, that tear down our history instead of learning from it, or that prioritize grievance over gratitude.
Yet look at what we’ve built: From the blood-soaked fields of the Revolution to the Greatest Generation’s defeat of fascism, from the moon landing to the innovations that power the world today. America has welcomed millions of immigrants seeking the same unalienable rights. We’ve expanded opportunity across lines of race, creed, and background—not perfectly, but through persistent striving toward those founding ideals.
In New Hampshire, we don’t just talk about these values — we live them. Our athletic programs and youth sports build grit, discipline, integrity, courage, and self-motivation on the mats, fields, and trails. Families grow stronger through town meetings, local traditions, and community events from Keene’s Monadnock celebrations to seacoast festivals and White Mountain gatherings. The Granite State’s independent spirit shines in our working farms, small businesses, and fierce defense of parental rights and Education Freedom Accounts that put families first. This is the Granite State way: independent, resilient, rooted in common sense, and proudly self-reliant.
Patriotism isn’t empty symbolism or blind loyalty. It’s a clear-eyed appreciation for what our ancestors sacrificed and a fierce determination to hand down a freer, stronger nation to the next generation.
As we celebrate America 250—with parades, readings of the Declaration, historical reenactments, and fireworks across the Granite State and the nation—let’s reject the shame and embrace the honor and have gratitude. Fly the flag high. Teach your children the stories of Jefferson, Adams, Stark, and the countless ordinary heroes who made this experiment in liberty work.
America’s best days are still ahead if we remember who we are. Live Free or Die. God Bless New Hampshire, and God Bless the United States of America.
