Happy Founder’s Day!

Hope everyone will be taking part in the celebrations. It is a day we remember those who came before us, who took a chance and settled here at the edge of the frontier, and who outfitted the wagon trails that settled the western half of the country. It will be a day that we want our yards to be spruced up and have the stars and stripes proudly displayed. Visitors will be walking on the sidewalks so be sure to wave and welcome them. We have a lot to be proud of living here in Independence. Even our name projects a spirit of patriotism and pride. It was Pulitzer Prize winning author and noted historian, David McCullough, who said in reference to this area, “I can’t think of another piece of landscape of similar size where so many things happened that have been of significance in to the story of America.” That means our Founder’s Day is not just important to those of us who live here, but it is even more important to all citizens of this great nation. So when is Founder’s Day? This day is actually easy to remember and you won’t even need to mark it on your calendar. You see, practically every day is Founder’s Day here in Old Town Independence. It is celebrated 361 days a year. In fact, everything we do to make our properties shine is a celebration of our tremendous history. From the Truman Home National Historic Site on Delaware Street, 20,000 visitors from all over the world walk our sidewalks and view our streetscapes. Very few communities have the opportunities to shine and celebrate what we have here in Old Town Independence. So let’s observe Founder’s Day!!! But why only 361 days a year and not 365? Well, there’s this event called Santa-Cali-Gon on Labor Day weekend where we actually make it difficult for visitors to get to many of our historic sites and where we actually reward those who have paved over our history with lucrative parking sales. Yes, that’s right, we actually have more incentives to bulldoze than we do to preserve here in Old Town. So, please, as you greet folks today and tomorrow and the next day and the next and ……………… , wish them a “Happy Founder’s Day.” If someone asks you about Founder’s Day, then tell them “except for 4 days in September, every day is Founder’s Day here in Independence!”