00:00 - Thank you so much Riley.

00:04 - So for those of you who do not know me my name is Cassandra Coleman and I am the

00:08 - executive director of america fifty pa

00:11 - and we are the commonwealth of Pennsylvania commission that was charged with planning

00:15 - and coordinating

00:16 - all of the programming projects and events

00:19 - around the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary

00:23 - of the United States in twenty twenty six.

00:24 - So thank you so much lehigh valley for this wonderful event tonight and for the warm

00:30 - welcome

00:31 - we have over one hundred attendees

00:33 - and we have a

00:35 - about a dozen sponsors so we want to thank all of our host sponsors for this evening

00:40 - southwestern energy the union league foundation

00:43 - Williams energy

00:45 - the phd association of township supervisors

00:48 - m and t bank

00:49 - lehigh valley health network

00:51 - boil construction

00:53 - lehigh valley labour council

00:55 - tusk as homes

00:56 - Ben Franklin technology partners

00:58 - the international association of fire fighters local three oh two

01:02 - so thank you again to all of our hosts sponsors.

01:06 - I also want to make sure we think

01:11 - the eastern economic development corporation Jared and Mike and their team

01:15 - and they were amazing with helping US get all of the food and the beverages and

01:19 - things here so let's give a round of applause for them.

01:23 - And I want to thank fattier hama as well for all of her help pulling this together.

01:30 - And the first on the agenda tonight I definitely I want to thank the crayola

01:36 - experience for hosting US this evening

01:39 - and here to say a few words is Pete ruggieri the c o o of the crayola experience.

01:46 - Thank you Sandra.

01:51 - Wanted to wilk everyone and welcome everyone to the crayola experience.

01:56 - As we travel around the world

01:58 - and engage with people and they say where do you work and you say criollo.

02:02 - The first thing you get is a smile.

02:05 - And then we always get a story and.

02:08 - Invariably it has to do something with the sixty four box and the built in sharpener

02:14 - but we certainly hope that tonight you

02:16 - have.

02:17 - A bit of your childhood

02:19 - just coming through the top and smelling the the crans up there is always a great

02:23 - experience.

02:24 - We came to ooh the the lehigh valley to Easton

02:28 - in the early nineteen hundreds because of the raw materials.

02:32 - The limestone deposits and the sli in my hometown of pienaar Jewel.

02:37 - And

02:37 - we stayed because of the people.

02:40 - Is a rich history.

02:42 - Over one hundred and twenty years and

02:44 - up the road in forks township on an annual basis

02:48 - we make three billion

02:49 - kranz

02:50 - we make seven hundred million markers.

02:53 - Over in Bethlehem township.

02:55 - We manufacture modeling compounds and kids and one hundred and twenty million jars of

03:00 - paint a year.

03:02 - And then in the city of Bethlehem.

03:04 - We

03:05 - distribute http products around the world

03:08 - to help parents and educators raise creatively alive kids.

03:12 - So we're very proud of that.

03:13 - Now with respect to this building just a little

03:17 - history lesson so you know where you are.

03:18 - In nineteen ninety six.

03:20 - We

03:21 - created the crayola factory here.

03:24 - In an intent into partnership with the city of east

03:26 - to revitalize.

03:28 - The economic situation in the community.

03:31 - About a decade ago we we doubled down working with the mayor.

03:35 - And reinvested

03:36 - in this building

03:38 - and we re reimagined it as the crayola experience

03:42 - and by the way there's one of these in Orlando and Dallas.

03:46 - At in Phoenix

03:47 - and in Minneapolis

03:49 - but this was the first and every year.

03:52 - Three hundred and fifty thousand children and their families come through here.

03:57 - For a immersive

03:59 - experience typically lasting

04:01 - four hours.

04:02 - So at crayola we call ourselves crayola crayons we Koreans are proud loud

04:07 - to call Pennsylvania home.

04:10 - We're proud of the integral part that the commonwealth played in American history.

04:15 - And we know that Pennsylvania will continue

04:19 - to play an important role in america's future.

04:20 - I wish you all the best and enjoy your evening

04:22 - thank the staffs

04:28 - thank you so much Pete and.

04:30 - Why one thing I I want to make sure to note is and for r k through four program that

04:35 - we launched this year that you can

04:37 - we'll talk a little bit more about later and it's on the boards in the bathroom

04:40 - crayola actually donated fifty thousand boxes of crayons to go to our Pennsylvania

04:44 - students so

04:44 - thank you for that as well.

04:47 - Though so

04:49 - america to fifty pa has been working very hard to lay a strong foundation of support

04:53 - across the commonwealth

04:54 - starting on the local level

04:56 - municipal and county support for an initiative of this magnitude is key

05:00 - and we are so honored to have both the mayor

05:02 - of Easton sal panto and the northampton county executive lamont le corps

05:06 - with US tonight I'd like to invite both of them to say a few words as well.

05:11 - Though I'll go first

05:17 - because the mayor talks longer than I do.

05:20 - I have to get up to a county council meeting because we have to change the name of

05:24 - northampton county to crayola.

05:27 - I.

05:28 - Have

05:29 - welcome

05:30 - what a wonderful event

05:32 - that we all have the opportunity to participate in tonight and.

05:35 - One of the things

05:36 - that I think is so special for US

05:39 - is that we actually have a real Liberty bell.

05:42 - And during the two fifty celebration

05:44 - we need to invite everyone who comes to northampton county

05:48 - to come up and see a real Liberty bell

05:51 - that is housed in the rotunda of the northampton county courthouse.

05:55 - This is

05:55 - I call it a real Liberty bell won

05:57 - because it was rung when the declaration of independence was read here in eastern I

06:01 - have that right merit.

06:03 - Two

06:04 - it was forged and our current mayor he was not the mayor when it was forged

06:09 - but it was forged in Bethlehem mayor Reynolds I saw

06:11 - was here earlier

06:13 - and three it didn't crack when they rang it.

06:18 - And it's American made

06:19 - made in the usa.

06:21 - But

06:22 - I.

06:23 - Am so.

06:24 - Thrilled that we have such luminaries such as mrs Casey here with US tonight

06:29 - and governor schweiger

06:30 - and so many other leaders throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania

06:35 - to help US get this process moving forward.

06:38 - Mayor.

06:40 - Thank you lamont.

06:43 - Mrs Casey and governor.

06:46 - And everyone and welcome to the most colorful city in the world

06:49 - and as I tell all my friends and

06:51 - neighbors and across the

06:52 - country when I meet with them

06:54 - the mayors know that isa is the most colourful picture.

06:56 - City in the world because of crayola

06:58 - and

06:59 - beat said did they make three billion crowns a year

07:02 - one billion I'm very proud of the fact that gorilla makes one billion of them

07:06 - every year by solar energy so that's pretty good.

07:10 - Though they have more colors than just green but they are a great company.

07:15 - I will tell you that.

07:17 - This celebration both Pennsylvania two fifty

07:21 - and the celebration of Easton is very important to me because

07:24 - I was a history teacher and I taught local history and.

07:27 - I can't think of anything more valuable than

07:29 - bringing people to our city to experience

07:32 - our heritage day the rereading of the declaration of independence

07:35 - are reenactors.

07:37 - Not everything took place in Philadelphia.

07:40 - We're a signer of the declaration of independence right here

07:42 - George Taylor was lived right around the corner forth the very street

07:45 - he

07:46 - and Bob levers read the declaration of independence on July eighth

07:50 - so everybody wins why we have our fireworks on July eighth instead of July fourth

07:54 - well one is because of the history and Jews because we get them cheaper.

07:58 - Laughs

08:00 - but seriously.

08:02 - Pennsylvania ju fifty I want to thank you.

08:04 - Think you've done a great job

08:06 - I know that it is also Lafayette college's two hundred and we've already formed

08:10 - a merger

08:11 - of people who are working with

08:13 - greater ease and development partnership has evolved

08:16 - and bringing those two groups together

08:18 - to make sure that we have a very successful celebration.

08:21 - Not just of law via college because we don't want to just do love your cards you want

08:24 - to do Pennsylvania

08:25 - and it's not just Philadelphia it's also Easton

08:28 - and other cities like Bethlehem

08:30 - I love them arabian heritage and we are a world heritage site very soon

08:34 - let's hope we're keeping our fingers crossed I wrote a letter

08:37 - I've called up about it I think it'd be great for the valley to have a world heritage

08:40 - center

08:41 - right here by the United Nations so.

08:43 - I just want to thank all of you at crayola for making this available here.

08:47 - Thank you and your staff are doing a great job

08:49 - thank foggia Bob Freeman is always

08:51 - comes up and and does a great job

08:53 - so I wanna thank everybody for being here

08:55 - and remember you live in the most colorful city in the world.

09:01 - Thank you both for being here and for the support

09:07 - and so we have been working like I mentioned very hard to develop impactful programs

09:12 - projects

09:13 - and events and we still have plenty to do

09:16 - however we would not be where we are today without the support of the commons health

09:20 - and in the individual caucuses

09:21 - their members and the governor.

09:24 - I would like to ask state representative by premium to say a few words.

09:28 - Thank you Cassandra.

09:33 - You know Vermont and sour to the toughest

09:37 - people to follow their their stick is beyond

09:38 - beyond touching really they're excellent.

09:41 - And.

09:41 - We are very.

09:44 - Appropriate to be.

09:45 - Gathering here for this launch of the lehigh valley.

09:48 - Amir Erica two hundred and fifty

09:49 - pa.

09:51 - As

09:51 - for in many ways one

09:52 - is it's very fitting

09:54 - this is a beautiful venue.

09:55 - Of

09:56 - crayola has been a wonderful partner with the city of Easton and in Pennsylvania in

09:59 - general.

10:00 - We we look upon it with pride as a great Pennsylvania product

10:03 - a great eastern product

10:05 - and it's heritage is very important

10:07 - but they also were.

10:09 - It's citizen

10:10 - and willing to invest in the downtown.

10:12 - At a time when it was kind of bleak.

10:15 - They were one of the first beachheads in the revitalization of downtown Easton

10:19 - and it drew families back into the city

10:21 - that I had not seen since my childhood.

10:24 - So it really jumpstart is

10:26 - and we are very fortunate in having a mayor like sal panto was done outside landing job

10:30 - revitalizing the city he and I both share a deep and abiding love for our hometown

10:35 - and his work has really made a big difference

10:37 - and a marvelous impact.

10:39 - But crayola coming here really was a jumpstart

10:42 - and we now boast a great restaurant scene

10:44 - we boast.

10:46 - Some of

10:46 - the state theater.

10:47 - We have wonderful festivals

10:49 - we have an outstanding main street program

10:51 - we have.

10:52 - A wonderful farmer's market

10:54 - if you've never been to the Easton farmers'

10:55 - market

10:56 - come back the first Saturday may

10:58 - the launch is down along the river

10:59 - forty vendors vendors

11:01 - some of the greatest produce you'll

11:03 - ever discover in Pennsylvania.

11:04 - So we really.

11:06 - Cherish that relationship with krill

11:08 - but this venue is also

11:10 - fitting because of our proximity

11:12 - to

11:12 - center square.

11:13 - As the mayor alluded to.

11:15 - Center square was where Easton had a public reading

11:18 - of the declaration of indigo pendants

11:20 - on July eight seventeen seventy six.

11:23 - We were one of only three communities.

11:25 - That had that reading

11:27 - Trenton was the other Philadelphia was the other.

11:29 - So every every.

11:31 - July eighth weekend period

11:32 - we celebrate our heritage day and have

11:34 - a reenactment of that reading.

11:36 - And I never tire of hearing the words of that great document.

11:41 - The declaration of.

11:42 - Independence is one of the most inspiring.

11:45 - Documents one of the best forms of civic pros.

11:49 - That was ever it.

11:51 - Is our birth certificate as a country.

11:53 - And there is much in it to admire.

11:55 - Much.

11:56 - In it to be inspired by and has inspired the world

11:59 - with it's marvelous words.

12:01 - And I think one of the greatest things about the story of the American experience.

12:05 - Is even though we have such great words in that document.

12:09 - We as Americans have never shied away from the fact that acknowledging the fact.

12:13 - That we continue to work to make those wonderful.

12:16 - Themes of freedom

12:17 - and of Liberty

12:18 - to work to make them a reality

12:20 - and that's been part of the American struggle.

12:22 - To make sure that we just not have

12:24 - nice words to say but actions to live by and abide by

12:28 - in a better society as a result of it.

12:30 - So part of our mission as Americans is to continue to strive

12:33 - to make those wonderful words

12:35 - a reality.

12:36 - In our own country.

12:38 - And that's part of the celebration.

12:40 - There there's so much that america to fifty pa

12:43 - has to do

12:44 - and we look forward to all the great things that will come of it.

12:47 - If we can educate more people about the history of this country

12:50 - we can estimate cape where people about the rich heritage

12:53 - that exists in so many of our communities across Pennsylvania.

12:57 - You will have done a great job

12:58 - of bringing people up to speed

13:00 - of what they can be proud of in this country.

13:02 - So I wish you well I thank all the sponsors the commissioners

13:05 - for their involvement.

13:06 - Let's make this a great celebration and in two thousand and twenty six

13:09 - one to be proud of

13:10 - and one that our.

13:11 - Many of our citizens

13:12 - will look on with great pride as well

13:14 - thank you.

13:15 - Thank you representative.

13:22 - So along with those on the agenda tonight we also want to thank the elected officials

13:27 - from federal state county and local levels

13:30 - who went their names and support to this event

13:33 - and some of whom are here and some of whom have representatives of their teams here

13:38 - so we want to thank congressman Mac car right and congresswoman Susan wild.

13:42 - Sen Lisa by scola and senator Nick Miller

13:45 - state representatives to add Joe honey sir Peter fry it's.

13:48 - Joe emerick and flood

13:50 - Miley MacKenzie Ryan MacKenzie Lee

13:53 - Murray Matt and

13:54 - Zach maiko.

13:56 - Ginny a genie mcneil terror probes

13:59 - Jack rader Steve Samuelson Mike schlossberg.

14:02 - Peach fire Josh segal.

14:05 - Lehigh county executive Phil Armstrong

14:07 - and the berks county commissioners leinbach Rivera and helmick

14:11 - and reading mayor Eddie moran.

14:13 - Bethlehem mayor William Reynolds and allentown mayor there Matt directs that thank

14:17 - you all so much.

14:19 - Though as I mentioned earlier and we have

14:28 - built america to fifty pa from the ground up.

14:29 - Recognizing that municipalities and counties along

14:33 - being on the ground and

14:35 - with the support from community organizations are the ones who can ensure

14:39 - a successful so my quince Antonio in two thousand and twenty six.

14:42 - We are so proud to say that we have over forty five county partners and over two

14:47 - hundred and fifty local municipal partners.

14:50 - That have passed the america gi fifty pa resolution becoming again official partners

14:54 - we also have over ninety nonprofit affiliate partners at this point.

14:59 - We are so eg excited for some of our programming that has banned or will be launched

15:04 - in the next three to six months across the commonwealth

15:07 - to just mention a few.

15:08 - Our direct effect innovation challenge is going into it's fifth year this fall

15:13 - partnering with over forty colleges and universities across the commonwealth

15:17 - we challenge Pennsylvania students to come up with integrated marketing concepts to

15:21 - address the challenge that is put in front of them.

15:24 - Are young heroes outreach program

15:26 - in partnership with the national Liberty museum

15:29 - this bring civics education back into the classrooms and is geared for students in

15:33 - fifth through eighth grade.

15:34 - This program helps students identify a problem in their community

15:38 - and help be the change that comes up with the solution for excuse me the ideas for

15:43 - the solution.

15:44 - Another that we just launched in January

15:48 - and I am a bit biased cause I have an eight year old at home who loves this program

15:52 - but is the keystone classroom initiative

15:55 - this is a storytelling and visitation program for k through fourth graders across the

16:00 - commonwealth

16:00 - we visit the schools with guest readers mascots and historical reenactors

16:06 - to educate the students at an age appropriate level

16:09 - about our shared Pennsylvania story

16:11 - this program will continue through two thousand twenty six and the reach is like I

16:15 - mentioned earlier fifty thousand Pennsylvania students by the time the anniversary

16:19 - rolls around.

16:20 - That along with the programming we also have

16:29 - impactful projects

16:30 - are bells across Pennsylvania are our fiberglass Liberty bells

16:34 - we will be commissioning local artists to design these bells reflective of the

16:38 - communities in which they live

16:40 - and we hoped to have a minimum of one of these bells in each of the sixty seven

16:44 - counties we hope for many more.

16:46 - Our Liberty tree project in partnership with the Pennsylvania freemasons

16:50 - will allow US to plant a certified Liberty tree in each of the sixty seven counties

16:55 - these are the trees that were propagated from the original Liberty tree that the

16:59 - revolutionaries

17:00 - used to make them our plans under.

17:02 - Our Pennsylvania day initiative this is our volunteer and give back component to

17:08 - america to fifty pa is July twentieth every year.

17:11 - We've partnered with feeding Pennsylvania thanks to the generous support of natural

17:15 - food group in murat is here tonight to thank you for that support.

17:21 - Over the last two years of this program

17:25 - we have had over four hundred and fifty volunteers across over fifteen food banks in

17:30 - this commonwealth

17:31 - packaging over seventeen thousand boxes of food for our neighbors.

17:35 - This year we are actually going to be adding another component to Pennsylvania day

17:40 - with a partnership with keep penn sylvania beautiful

17:42 - and we are adding community improvement and cleanup projects as an option for our

17:47 - volunteers.

17:49 - Though we also have our service member spotlight

17:56 - series in partnership with camp freedom

17:57 - this allows US to highlight active and retired service members across our

18:01 - commonwealth and thank them for our service.

18:04 - The road to twenty twenty six our health and

18:09 - wellness effort that was launched last month.

18:09 - This project encourages pennsylvanians to get out and get healthy by twenty twenty

18:14 - six by running

18:15 - walking biking or wheeling

18:18 - their way to twenty six in our state and

18:22 - county parks and historical points of interest.

18:23 - We have a podcast launching in July

18:26 - that will highlight the unique stories of the commonwealth.

18:29 - That makeup that diverse fabric of Pennsylvania

18:33 - and last but not least are semi Quinn centennial bells

18:36 - these bells are bronze

18:38 - permanent bells that will be placed at historically significant locations across the

18:42 - commonwealth.

18:43 - These bells will tell the stories that are sometimes left out of our history books

18:47 - we are so honored

18:49 - to announce it's that the dedication of our first semi queen centennial bell

18:53 - thanks to the generous support of cutera energy

18:56 - will be this June

18:58 - at the Dennis farm which is the longest freely owned African American owned farm in

19:02 - the country right here in susquehanna county in the commonwealth.

19:07 - Through all of our programming and projects are listed around the room on our boards

19:16 - I encourage you to check those out to go to our website at america d fifty pa dot org

19:21 - to learn more.

19:22 - Before I introduce our final speaker tonight

19:25 - I just want to introduce them very important individuals we have with US here tonight

19:29 - we do have a few of our america to fifty pa commissioners in the room we have Tim

19:33 - wachter Vanessa de salvo gets and Jim depot.

19:37 - Raise their hands.

19:39 - And as the leader of this organization I would be lost without our team

19:47 - and

19:47 - our team believes in this initiative just as much as I do

19:51 - and work tirelessly with me every day to ensure that we reach every pennsylvanian

19:57 - in every county

19:58 - so I just want to point out our team we have with US here tonight we have trees Casey

20:01 - who has always are devout

20:03 - director of development.

20:04 - Tree.

20:06 - Though we have Leo malki who's our director of operations.

20:11 - And we have Victoria Rogers who's our director of partnerships.

20:16 - And we have Andre castillo who is our intern this semester

20:22 - he was the one Manning the check in table so give Andrea a round of applause as well.

20:28 - And a fun fact is Andrea is actually a former direct effect innovation challenge

20:33 - participant.

20:34 - We also have Samantha koran who is our director of programming and projects and

20:39 - brief errand who is our director of communications

20:41 - who are not who's not with US here tonight

20:43 - and but I also would be remiss if I did not recognize our semi current centennial

20:48 - founders ercol.

20:49 - Some of these folks are here in the room tonight but america to fifty pa went out

20:53 - and solicited the private support early on before receiving

20:58 - support from the commonwealth

20:59 - and the semi-open centennial founder circle stepped up early and very generously.

21:04 - So I want to thank coach Tara energy discover

21:09 - nepa Duane Morris in depend since blue cross

21:10 - comcast the hershey company

21:12 - miracle commercial wawa.

21:14 - Utz quality foods and highmark so thank you thank you.

21:18 - And now for our closer.

21:23 - America fifty pa is honored to have the support of all of the former governors

21:28 - as well as our new current governor Josh shapiro.

21:31 - Our next speaker

21:33 - former governor Mark schwager has been an advocate

21:36 - for america to fifty pa all across this commonwealth

21:39 - and I always joke with him and say he continues to answer my calls so that's a good

21:43 - thing he hasn't blocked me yet.

21:46 - But we are so thrilled to have him here with US

21:49 - to have him travel with US across the commonwealth and again to have him be

21:53 - of huge advocate for the work

21:55 - as he believes just as well as we do that this truly can have impact on communities

21:59 - across our commonwealth.

22:00 - Governor checker.

22:02 - Then I do bring greetings from a governor shapiro and all of my colleagues who we

22:11 - describe as former governors.

22:14 - Joshua

22:15 - dansby

22:15 - just a couple of weeks after his remarkable and I think runaway victory this past

22:20 - November.

22:22 - So why.

22:23 - Why the governors you can acknowledge that representative Friedman.

22:27 - Loved your comments by the way.

22:31 - Said Josh.

22:32 - You know.

22:33 - The job of governor comes out you every day every minute every second.

22:38 - But there are some roles some niches some

22:42 - challenges that you're absolutely going to love.

22:43 - An automobile to talk about our Pennsylvania.

22:47 - Talk about america to fifty pa and just run a the two thousand and twenty six.

22:52 - Because really

22:52 - that's just yeah it's a big party.

22:54 - Two thousand and twenty six we've got over

22:56 - forty five counties.

22:58 - Multiple jurisdictions that want to have their own program and their own gig and it's

23:01 - got to be fun.

23:03 - Said Josh there is nothing like this

23:05 - and keep something in mind Josh and I are.

23:08 - Of.

23:09 - Different techniques sent it before we had the opportunity to serve you in Harrisburg

23:13 - Pennsylvania's.

23:14 - I was a lieutenant governor and then governor.

23:17 - Josh was called the commission.

23:19 - I was accounting gimmick.

23:21 - In bucks county so I'm a neighbor south here so to speak.

23:24 - Where rebels will kicks off

23:25 - going south.

23:27 - Township supervisor Josh was a township commissioner of abington.

23:30 - We believe in our heart and soul

23:33 - that Harrisburg.

23:34 - Has got some great ideas.

23:36 - But when it comes to america to fifty pa we don't want a top down mentality that

23:41 - drives this effort.

23:42 - We want local communities

23:45 - and leaders

23:46 - and nonprofits and civic energy to be brought to bear to say.

23:49 - Hey let's have some fun in Pennsylvania.

23:52 - Party here in Pennsylvania start your party here because america did.

23:58 - As representative Freeman said it's not being melodramatic.

24:03 - It did start here.

24:05 - And I'm concerned because I do think there are times when I don't think people

24:08 - realize the unique background and accomplishment.

24:11 - And the the the the courage that it took for someone to drive from Philadelphia where

24:15 - the declaration of independence

24:17 - that hand written copy.

24:19 - To this square at Easton.

24:22 - Knowing that the British ship advisers were everywhere.

24:27 - Ready to stop that.

24:29 - In their own way and say we are not declaring independence from king.

24:32 - King George.

24:35 - That's courage.

24:36 - To go into one of three cities and say

24:38 - we are a remarkable place

24:40 - friends of Easton we are free people.

24:43 - They did say that.

24:45 - Take a look

24:46 - when you walk out here tonight you've got folks walking along they're enjoying their

24:49 - ice cream.

24:50 - Kind of chatting

24:52 - to beautiful April night.

24:55 - And why because they're free people.

24:57 - Because

24:58 - two hundred and thirty two hundred and forty seven years ago.

25:01 - A group of people

25:02 - I think brought to life by your your wonderful.

25:06 - Sincere insights and said we are going to

25:10 - fight for this were not subjects of the crown.

25:12 - What's been accomplished.

25:14 - Where the longest running democracy it in the history of the planet

25:17 - that's what's been accomplished.

25:18 - Said to Josh it's fun to talk about that.

25:21 - We are the leaders.

25:23 - We were

25:24 - the thought

25:25 - leaders we were that consumers

25:28 - we were the architects

25:31 - of this remarkable day democracy.

25:34 - So I know there's probably something well just

25:36 - more boyscout talk.

25:39 - It does concern me I saw something the other day as to why I think should concern you

25:43 - as good

25:44 - dedicated pennsylvanians whether you're from lehigh county or berkshire Monroe.

25:49 - Or northampton county.

25:51 - They gave the citizenship test.

25:54 - To.

25:55 - Indigenous Americans.

25:57 - I don't think it'll be the case with now naturalized.

26:00 - Americans.

26:01 - My Turkish friend we would agree.

26:05 - They gave the citizenship test

26:07 - only four out of ten.

26:09 - Had a passing Mark.

26:12 - That's a.

26:13 - A discouraging way to say even.

26:16 - Some of our neighbors.

26:18 - Really rejected

26:20 - and don't embrace the values that distinguish US.

26:23 - Things like.

26:24 - Knowing the virtues of consent of the governed.

26:28 - The voice of the majority.

26:31 - One person

26:33 - one vote.

26:35 - The first society that says

26:37 - we are a free people and we will go with the capitalistic system.

26:42 - Enterprising people welcomed.

26:45 - No no

26:45 - they did not know the answers.

26:49 - They did not know the values that distinguish US.

26:54 - So in part our assignment from here.

26:57 - And it's wonderful that you're here think about this.

27:00 - They are your neighbor saying it's just no big thing to me.

27:05 - The democracy will not last.

27:07 - If people see it that way.

27:09 - So in part on a sentimental and social emotional basis.

27:14 - The america to fifty ph to walk you up to that touchstone.

27:17 - That beautiful document described as the declaration of independence

27:21 - we are not subjects of the crown

27:23 - we are free ps apple born of natural or.

27:27 - That's what's at stake here.

27:29 - And so as we gather in a place like Easton it occurs to me.

27:32 - Certainly I looked out over that

27:34 - square mere as representative Friedman offered his thoughts and said.

27:38 - Geez do they really know what's at stake.

27:41 - How hard it is to keep this democracy going I think in the last couple of years are

27:45 - you surprised that there are speakers who say

27:47 - my lord this polarity is really concerning me whether it's the far right

27:51 - or the far left.

27:54 - And so to stand here in a place like Easton and I was born not too far from here I've

27:59 - just.

27:59 - Lived and

28:00 - still live in an area where Washington crossed the Delaware.

28:03 - You don't.

28:04 - Go through history lessons or civic work.

28:07 - In the first or second or third or fifth or seventh or twelfth grade

28:11 - without hearing about his remarkable gumption

28:13 - to know that he actually looked at many I the darkness of that night and said.

28:17 - Guess what we're heading to Trenton we're going to take on

28:20 - this British Garrison in Trenton

28:22 - I know your enlistments are up in six days.

28:27 - You can go home in six days.

28:30 - You don't need to respond to me.

28:32 - Is that much of a remarkable motivator Washington was

28:35 - they could leave in six days would you give me one more shot.

28:39 - For this.

28:40 - Red white and blue.

28:42 - The colonists are counting on you.

28:45 - Know Instagram then.

28:47 - No email.

28:48 - It was the message was here and here.

28:52 - That's what Washington was all about.

28:54 - And I I fear that there are folks among US who believe that was just another

28:58 - historical concoction.

29:01 - But we in these wonderful counties that are so laden with history and industrial

29:05 - accomplishment think about it.

29:07 - Your neighbors.

29:08 - Your parents your grandparents your great

29:12 - grandparents they helped US when world wars.

29:14 - They helped US build a Pennsylvania economy that was the envy of the world and still

29:17 - remain so.

29:19 - That anthracite called it came from

29:21 - points north of here and down the lehigh canal

29:24 - ardently to the Delaware canal and into new York city into Philadelphia.

29:28 - Heated homes and helped US build and power the the industrial economy.

29:33 - We want to world war wars

29:35 - and set piece free around the planet because of your parents or grandparents.

29:40 - I do and remain concerned about those who aren't exposed to American history

29:45 - and American civics.

29:47 - And what truly sets US apart.

29:49 - So today friends.

29:50 - Is not just a social gig

29:52 - even though it's wonderful that you're here we're.

29:55 - We're kind of walking you up to the touchstone too can you help US between now and

29:59 - two thousand and twenty six and say.

30:01 - You live in a remarkable place.

30:04 - It started here.

30:06 - And back to those folks who trekked

30:08 - took the assignment from Thomas Jefferson.

30:11 - And George Washington and James Madison and said.

30:14 - Look man we can't help you out we can't army we can't really give you.

30:19 - Some horses to get you up to use Easton you've got to make it on your own.

30:22 - But go up there and say to free people.

30:26 - America has.

30:28 - We are independent the hell with king George.

30:32 - Pretty much what they said.

30:33 - That his guts in my mind

30:35 - it is worth organizing around that perspective that effort

30:39 - that occurred back in seventeen seventy six.

30:42 - If we don't have folks like you.

30:46 - Motivated

30:47 - to do something about this to

30:48 - to ring that proverbial bell

30:50 - to grow this america to fifty pa program

30:53 - program.

30:54 - Then i'm

30:55 - real concerned

30:56 - I think I'm in the company of people who want to see this enterprise.

31:00 - Grow.

31:01 - But we've got to rely on the mayor's we gotta

31:05 - rely on local leaders and really go good.

31:06 - Folks like you who had that civic heartbeat drives you here tonight.

31:09 - In my mind and I'll finish with this it's kind of like that

31:12 - you know that weekend.

31:14 - Service.

31:17 - And you know who sings the loudest right.

31:20 - The choir.

31:22 - You're the choir.

31:23 - You're america's choir your Pennsylvania choir.

31:27 - And if anything as casts if you start a super job.

31:30 - Cash is added every day I would have for cash call them too we acknowledged a lot of

31:34 - folks.

31:37 - Way she was the youngest mer at one point in the United States of america she was all

31:41 - of twelve of or was it twenty one or.

31:44 - Twenty.

31:45 - In exeter.

31:46 - Zone county

31:47 - doing a super job

31:49 - but if we can if our enlistments grow.

31:52 - Through good folks like you and you're willing to go into these.

31:56 - Other groups where you're

31:57 - you're a member.

31:58 - And there are motivated as well we are going to have one fantastic gig and say to the

32:03 - world.

32:04 - We help build a country.

32:06 - Come on to Pennsylvania because this is where it all started

32:08 - and enjoy yourself so

32:10 - thanks cass

32:10 - thanks everyone.

32:12 - Thank you governor.

32:19 - And thank you all again for being here tonight thank you for the support and I hope

32:25 - that each and every one of you will join US

32:27 - and become a part of history so

32:29 - thank you so much.

32:32 - Three and.