On the website America250.org, a clock is counting down to the momentous day when America reaches its 250th birthday—its semi-quincentennial. It’s a tough word to say, and for that we must thank those who promoted the Latin language way back when.
A glance at the clock on the site’s home page shows roughly seven months until July 4, 2026, the official day celebrating the country’s beginnings when 12 colonies voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on a hot day in Philadelphia.
The words on that paper continue to guide and inspire us to find the best in ourselves and each other, so the great American Experiment can go on.
What Binds Us
The Founding Fathers, though, might be scratching their heads at the political climate these days, but let’s not lose sight of this milestone. There may be no better time for America to be preparing for its 250th birthday than right now. Instead of what divides Americans, the semiquincentennial offers an opportunity for citizens to pause, review, and relish all that’s been accomplished over the decades.
There will be, undoubtedly, book after book on the subject, but one that’s just been released deserves recognition. “Happy Semiquincentennial, America! 250 Reasons Why America Is Still Worth Celebrating” by Jay Payleitner celebrates exactly 250 places, inventions, phrases, foods, and more. It’s a potpourri of what it means to be American.
It’s divided into sections, like “America’s Tastebuds,” where we learn about pizza, picnics, and s’mores. In “Americanisms,” the author covers phrases like: excuse me; if you build it, he will come; and keep your eye on the ball.
Readers will learn what the Pez candy, the kazoo, and the lunchbox have in common, where the first drive-in theater was built, and a short history of the jukebox. The book is both entertaining and food for thought. It may elicit conversations around the dinner table, capture children’s attention in a civics lesson, and cause us to stand a little bit straighter during the National Anthem.
How Far America Has Come
In the first few pages, the author touches upon America’s growth: “Look how far we’ve come in just 250 years,” he writes. “We’ve added 37 states, and the population is 138 times what it was in 1776.” There’s been the election of 45 different presidents and the ratification of 27 constitutional amendments. American ingenuity is responsible for the Model T, the cell phone, and the internet. We were first in flight at Kitty Hawk, and first on the moon.
With that said, let’s dive into a few of the 250 items the author chose to represent the essence of the country.
The Essence of America
The piece on “Route 66” seems like a good place to start. It’s a popular term, but not many may know what it’s about. Now they do. The route was established in 1926 for the “great western migration” before and after World War II. It’s famous for its landmark hotels, retro drive-ins, bizarre museums, and even the first McDonald’s.
Another piece titled, “Greasy Spoons,” focuses on a common term, but we may not know where it came from. These are the truck stops and roadside diners where “the pies are homemade, and the food is unpretentious” and where rice pudding spins in the glass display case. Unfortunately, he adds, “sometimes the spoons are actually greasy.”
Under the “Landmarks” section is a list of 25 iconic American sites, including the familiar ones like the Grand Canyon, the Las Vegas Strip, and Mount Rushmore. Also listed is the largest ball of twine. Unfortunately, 10 states claim to have it. The Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged Branson, Missouri, as the winner, but that was in 1993. Since we learn that these balls of twine keep growing, with one measuring 40 feet in circumference and weighing more than 17,000 pounds. Their decision may need a revision at some point.
The section titled, “Heroes Among Us,” includes names both familiar and unfamiliar. Clara Barton, Jackie Robinson, and Mister Rogers are here, but so is Rick Rescorla. On Sept. 11, 2001, Rescorla’s reassuring demeanor kept colleagues calm as they evacuated the South Tower. “He was last seen climbing the stairs to conduct a final sweep for others,” Payleitner wrote. Rescorla didn’t survive.
America’s Motto
The phrase “E Pluribus Unum” is included, with thanks to the Latin language for these stately terms. The translation is “out of many, one.” We’re a nation forged from diverse origins. Much of the greatness we’ve enjoyed came to be from those who left everything to come here. Though a simple phrase, it possesses a deeper and more complex meaning and seems like a wise addition by the author.
The author provided a lot of wisdom in the over 30 books he’s published. There’s one on conflict resolution, one on building a happy marriage, and another about what a child needs from a father. In an interview, Payleitner reveals his books come from “a heart of optimism, and practical wisdom shaped by personal stories, life experience, a realistic view of human nature and my snarky sense of humor.”
Payleitner acknowledges those who helped the American experiment endure all these years. We owe a debt, he wrote, to those who’ve gone before us and sacrificed for us: “the fallen heroes, the veterans, and the parents and grandparents who shaped us.” America, he says, “endures because of their courage, dedication and selflessness.”
His final words provide what he hopes this book becomes: a conversation starter, something to keep “for when you’re feeling world-weary, patriotic or anti-patriotic.” This experiment remains unfinished. It’s “ours to question, to challenge, to cherish. “
Yes, us. We. The people.
‘Happy Semiquincentennial, America! 250 Reasons Why America Is Still Worth Celebrating’
By Jay Payleitner
Regnery: Oct. 7, 2025
Hardcover, 216 pages
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