ALLENTOWN, Pa. – At Sonya Sotomayor Dual Language Academy in Allentown, patriotism is the first lesson of the day.

The students put their hand over their heart and, looking at the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s something we are taught to do at an early age. As we get older, our understanding of our 31-word ritual deepens.

At Dieruff High School teacher Dan Jurasits asked seniors from the class of 2026 their thoughts about the pledge.

“Why do you think that’s something that is an important tradition in schools?” said Jurasits.

“Because it allows us to maintain… promise almost to like our country,” said student Jayleisse Morales.

These young Americans explore what it means to be an American during the 250th birthday of our country.

“I think it’s really cool, and I think that it’s a very big accomplishment for our country to have made it as far as we did, and I think that the 250th anniversary is a good point to reflect on the original values of the country and how we’ve changed throughout the years and how we’ve progressed throughout the years,” said Gage Reichard.

For these students, 2026 is not only big because of the semiquincentennial. It’s also the first year they are eligible to vote.

“It upsets me that a lot of people are apathetic towards elections and the government these days, because your voice, especially at this age, is the biggest power that you have. It’s the strongest thing you could have, and I think it’s so important to exercise that right, especially in these times,” said Maya Saliby.

Jurasits says the key to engaging the students is to show them the connection between past and present.

“That a lot of the issues that our country faces today are not necessarily new and we want to equip our students to be good thinkers, good critical thinkers to be able to see the historic influences in our country that are still impacting us today and how they can apply those lessons to their lives,” said Jurasits.

Although these students have graduated, the lessons they have learned will grow with them.

50 years from now, during the tricentennial, they will reflect on this moment and what it meant to be a young American at a pivotal time.

Find out more about what young Americans think of patriotism and learn about the role the Lehigh Valley played during the Revolutionary War by watching the WFMZ documentary “Lehigh Valley 1776” Saturday July 4 at 6:30 p.m. on WFMZ TV.