(L-R) Chaplain Don Biadog, members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, George Washington, Richard Rovsek, chairman of Spirit of Liberty Foundation, Jim Kirdrick, CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum
(Vincent Andrunas)
George Washington ringing the Spirit of Liberty Foundation’s iconic America’s Freedom Bell.
(Vincent Andrunas)
George Washington addressing the attendees.
(Vincent Andrunas)
America’s 3-tier Birthday Cake featuring portraits of America’s Founding Fathers.
(Vincent Andrunas)
The Spirit of Liberty Foundation’s dramatic 20’ foot tall, bright red “Heart of America 1776” rising from an America flag.
(Vincent Andrunas)
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(L-R) Chaplain Don Biadog, members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, George Washington, Richard Rovsek, chairman of Spirit of Liberty Foundation, Jim Kirdrick, CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum
(Vincent Andrunas)
The Spirit of Liberty Foundation successfully hosted America’s first birthday party to kick off Celebrate America 250!, according to a news release. The celebration was held recently at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and featured a prominent George Washington reenactor in an authentic Colonial Military uniform.
“America’s 250th birthday is important, but without George Washington’s leadership, and the Continental Army and the patriots who defeated the then greatest military in the world – England – there would be no American Declaration of Independence,” said Richard Rovsek, chairman of the Spirit of Liberty Foundation, a Rancho Santa Fe-based nonprofit organization, in the news release. “So today, we thank our Armed Forces from 1776 to today for keeping America and the world free!”
The Celebrate America 250! ceremony featured a powerful, dramatic and historic backdrop of America’s symbols representing this country’s Founding Fathers’ vision. Their vision was represented by a large reproduction of John Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence commissioned by Congress in 1817 and installed in the US Capitol Rotunda in 1826 on America’s 50th birthday. The Sons of the American Revolution attended in their authentic Revolutionary attire as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution, also dressed in historical attire, the news release stated.
Other patriotic symbols included the Spirit of Liberty Foundation’s iconic America’s Freedom Bell, which will ring the sound of Freedom across America throughout 2026, as well as a 6’6” exact reproduction of the Declaration of Independence, a dramatic 20’ foot tall, bright red “Heart of America 1776” rising from an America flag, and the three-tiered, 3-foot America’s Birthday Cake featuring portraits of the Founding Fathers topped by a majestic American bald eagle.
During the Celebrate America 250! event Military Chaplain Don Biadog blessed both America and America’s Birthday Cake, and General George Washington delivered his most important patriotic statements regarding the birth of this nation. Following General Washington’s remarks, he rang America’s Freedom Bell 13 times in in honor of the original 13 colonies, the news release stated.
About America’s Freedom Bell: The bell was created by the Spirit of Liberty Foundation. It was cast on June 6, 2013 to honor America’s heroes and Armed Forces. The bell contains 330 lbs. of bronze, and 11 lbs. of steel salvaged from the 9/11 twin towers. The bell has the official emblems of each branch of the Armed Forces embossed encircling it in the order of their founding: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard. It is inscribed with the words: “HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.”
For more information, visit https://spiritoflibertyfoundation.org/