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Tag: 250th anniversary

  • ‘Suffolk 250’ book aims to boost tourism, highlight sites | Long Island Business News

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    Celebrating 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, leaders in Suffolk County have released a new guide to the area’s . The guide gives Long Islanders and visitors a roadmap to explore local landmarks – and is designed to boost tourism in the process.

    “Long Island’s Path to Independence: A Revolutionary Passport” is published by the Suffolk County 250 Commemorative Planning Committee. The book encourages public engagement with Long Island’s history and was developed by local historical societies, , and community institutions. The guide includes QR codes for each participating organization’s website, and features space to collect commemorative stamps from each site visited.

    “This book – sold at cost – is a field guide to the history of Suffolk County, a history that goes all the way back to this being the first English-speaking settlement in what is now New York,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said in a news release about the guide.

    The book’s release comes at a time of strong tourism that has been reported for the region. In 2024, Long Island tourism reached record highs, with $7.9 billion in spending, up 3.8 percent from the previous year, according to New York State’s annual tourism economic impact report.

    Tourism jobs also increased, with 78,418 jobs in 2024, up from 76,227 in 2023.

    The recently published passport book highlights sites such as locations tied to the Culper Spy Ring, a former tavern, and The Country House Restaurant – a dining destination built in 1710 with a storied past.

    Along with the passport book are a free mobile app that will soon feature audio files of all the historic sites around the county. Events and promotions celebrating the anniversary will also be posted on Suffolk250.org.

    The book is sold on for $8.32.


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    Adina Genn

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  • A Northern Va. police department celebrates 250 years of the Marines with cake and a sword – WTOP News

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    Since 1921, the Marines have had a specific order on how to celebrate the Corps’ birthday involving traditional birthday cake with a globe and anchor decoration.

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    Alexandria Police Department celebrates 250 years of the Marines with cake and a sword

    The U.S. will turn 250 years old in July but one of its military branches is already celebrating that milestone this month. The Alexandria Police Department held a traditional Marine birthday celebration complete with cake and swords.

    Since 1921, the Marines have had a specific order on how to celebrate the Corps’ birthday. Of course, it involved a traditional birthday cake with a globe and anchor decoration but they cut the cake with a Marine officer’s Mameluke sword.

    Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told WTOP, “I’ve never held a sword before. So I was I was happy that I was not the person that was cutting the cake.”

    “I’m just really inspired by it being the 250-year celebration,” said Michael Jadoo, commandant of the Marine Corps league detachment in Montgomery County, Maryland. “Also looking back on history and how we as evolved as Marines. I think it’s just really amazing and beautiful.”

    The order handed down in 1921 from Maj. Gen. Commandant John Lejeune also prescribes that the youngest Marine present and oldest Marine present share a slice of birthday cake.

    Alexandria police officer and Marine Sgt. Maxwell Van Arsdale was the youngest on site.

    “In traditional sense, it’s a passing of knowledge, and it’s meaning that, ‘hey, we share and we feast together, and I share my experience with you and pass it on,’” he said.

    Van Arsdale told WTOP that it was his seventh Marine Corps birthday and “they get better each time.” The young officer has completed four deployments as a Marine and is transitioning from active-duty service to the reserves.

    Alex Trapero, a Marine veteran and 23-year officer with APD, was the eldest Marine at the celebration.

    “It’s very sentimental for me to have something like this and be recognized to have served in the Marine Corps,” Trapero said.

    Around a dozen police officers who are also reservists or veterans were on hand to celebrate and received a special challenge coin from the department.

    Why do so many “Devil Dogs,” a nickname for the Marines, go into law enforcement?

    Police Chief McGuire said it’s the calling they have to serve our country.

    Trapero believes it is the structure that law enforcement provides as well as Marine’s need to help those in danger.

    “We have the courage to be the first one to respond,” he said.

    “We put our lives on for people that we don’t know. We respond to any threat. Same thing as the Marine Corps,” Van Arsdale added.

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    Luke Lukert

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  • I-5 may be shut down due to concerns over live-fire military event at Camp Pendleton

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    SACRAMENTO  — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office is weighing whether to close parts of Interstate 5 beginning Friday amid concerns over what it says is a White House-directed plan to use live ordnance during a military anniversary celebration off Camp Pendleton’s coast in San Diego County — where Navy ships are expected to fire over the freeway onto the base.

    Newsom’s office has received, but not confirmed, reports that live ordnance will be fired from offshore vessels during the event commemorating the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. The event is titled “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength” and will feature Vice President JD Vance.

    Newsom’s office said it has received little information about the event or safety plans. The military show of force coincides with No Kings rallies and marches across the state on Saturday that are expected to draw large crowds, demonstrations challenging Trump and what critics say is government overreach.

    “Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military,” Newsom posted on the social media site X Wednesday.

    A military media advisory said the celebration will include a live amphibious assault demonstration. The Times could not confirm whether live ordnance will be fired over the freeway. The White House and Marine Corps did not respond to questions from The Times.

    “California always honors our Marines — but this isn’t the right way to go about it,” said a Newsom spokesperson. “The White House should focus on paying their military, lowering grocery prices and honoring these soldiers for their service instead of pompous displays of power. The lack of coordination and communication from the federal government on this event — and the overall impact to our society and economy — is evident of the larger disarray that is the Trump Administration.”

    Freeway closures are being considered for a section of I-5 between Orange County to San Diego County from Friday to Saturday, which would cut off a major traffic artery that moves upward of 80,000 travelers a day. A closure with little notice would likely result in massive gridlock from Dana Point in the north to well past Del Mar in the south.

    Vance, the first Marine veteran to serve as vice president, is expected to attend the event Saturday along with 15,000 Marines, Sailors, veterans and their families, according to event’s media release. Along with Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to deliver remarks.

    Camp Pendleton advised nearby residents that there will be live-fire training with high explosive munitions through Sunday, which will result in some roads on base being closed.

    The Trump administration previously had plans for a major celebration next month for the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines, which would have included an air and sea show — with the Blue Angels and parading warships — attended by President Trump, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Plans to host that show in San Diego have been called off, the paper reported.

    Camp Pendleton is a 125,000-acre base in northwestern San Diego County that has been critical in preparing soldiers for amphibious missions since World War II thanks to its miles of beach and coastal hills. The U.S. Department of Defense is considering making a portion of the base available for development or lease.

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    Melody Gutierrez

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