Washington, July 4 (IANS) US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday used the 250th anniversary celebration of the US Navy to deliver a sweeping tribute to American history, military service and national unity, urging Americans to embrace what he called the country’s shared legacy while rejecting narratives focused solely on its flaws.
Speaking aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York Harbor, Vance addressed sailors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, veterans, Gold Star families and international naval representatives gathered for the commemoration.
“Today we celebrate 250 years of America facing the future without fear. We celebrate 250 years of proving what a free people can achieve by the providence of our Almighty Creator,” Vance said.
He thanked military personnel and acknowledged the participation of foreign delegations, saying, “We have over 50 countries from all over the world that chose to send fighters or naval vessels here to honour our country.”
“And we say from the bottom of our hearts, we are grateful for our friends, grateful for our allies on this special anniversary,” he added.
Vance framed his address around the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the role of General George Washington as British forces prepared to attack New York.
Recalling Washington reading the Declaration to his troops, Vance quoted its opening words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
“Even today, 250 years later, these words command tremendous power over us as Americans,” he said.
Throughout the speech, Vance highlighted three historical figures whom he described as embodying the American spirit: George Washington, civil engineer James Buchanan Eads and industrialist Henry Kaiser.
He praised Eads for overcoming repeated setbacks to build engineering landmarks, saying, “He said, ‘Yes, I can because I’m an American and I’m going to do it myself.'”
Vance also credited Kaiser with rapidly expanding American shipbuilding during the Second World War and treating workers as partners in the national effort.
“He saw them as fellow citizens who could build amazing things,” Vance said.
The Vice President also praised the crew of the USS Kearsarge for restoring the ceremony site after severe weather.
“What you folks watching at home on TV may not realise is that everything that you see today was destroyed last night in a storm, but these great sailors rebuilt it in 12 hours so that you all could be here, so that we could have this amazing procession, and so we could celebrate our 250th birthday in style,” he said.
Turning briefly to contemporary political divisions, Vance said Americans should reject what he described as a narrow reading of the nation’s history.
“You will hear a couple of small but loud voices today speak obsessively not of our national greatness but of our national imperfections,” he said.
“They’re wrong.”
Vance urged Americans to “reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens” and “reject the view of your nation that sees only its sins but not its grace and its greatness”.
“Everything that we have done as a country, we have done together. Not as citizens divided against each other, but as a common people working towards a common future,” he said.
Concluding the address, Vance called on Americans to carry forward the country’s legacy into its next quarter millennium.
“All of us will need to do our part to create the next 250 years of American greatness,” he said. “I’m proud of you. Happy birthday, and happy birthday to our great nation. Today, my friends, we celebrate, and tomorrow we get back to work.”
The speech formed part of the United States’ year-long America250 observances marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
–IANS
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