San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico – July 4, 2026 – Governor Jenniffer González-Colón kicked off the commemorative events for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America by swearing in 250 teenagers from across Puerto Rico as the Tricentennial Generation, who will take on the responsibility of preserving the legacy of the nation’s first 250 years and carrying it forward to the Tricentennial.  

The 250 young people, aged 10 to 14, come from public housing projects across the island and from organizations serving people with disabilities. Each of them signed an oath, and in fifty years, for the celebration of the nation’s Tricentennial, they will reunite in San Lorenzo, where they will bear witness to their actions in defense of the principles of justice, democracy, and equality that have guided the United States of America.  

This youth-focused event was the centerpiece of the celebration held in San Lorenzo, which included formal ceremonies, the presentation of special awards, and a civic-military parade in honor of the occasion. The official ceremonies took place in San Lorenzo’s Plaza de los Alcaldes, alongside state and federal officials, members of the Armed Forces, veterans, community leaders, and citizens who gathered to commemorate this historic date.  

In her official message, Governor González-Colón emphasized that the 250th anniversary of the United States represents the celebration of a nation founded on the principles of democratic representation, whose history has been marked by a constant capacity for evolution and renewal.  

The Governor stated that the event was dedicated to statehood. “Today I made a very conscious decision. I decided to dedicate this commemoration to statehood. Not because this is a partisan event. Not because today we are celebrating a political victory, as the statehood movement has done on several occasions. But because I am convinced that there is no better way to honor the principles that gave rise to the United States two hundred and fifty years ago than by reaffirming our commitment to the principle that encapsulates all the others: equality.”  

“We believe in statehood because we are convinced that our identity is so strong that it does not depend on a political status; we will continue to be the island of music, the island of our culture, the island of our faith, the island of our traditions, and of theimmense pride we feel in calling ourselves Puerto Ricans. That is why we have decided to dedicate these 250 years to commemorating equality and the pursuit of statehood,” said the Governor, who was joined by the First Gentleman of Puerto Rico, Dr. José “Yovín” Vargas.  

“I have never believed that being deeply Puerto Rican and taking pride in American citizenship are incompatible feelings. I have experienced them together my entire life. And precisely because I love Puerto Rico so deeply, I want the best for this island. I speak to you today as Governor. But before that, I speak to you as a Puerto Rican who loves this land with all her heart,” she added.  

The mayor of San Lorenzo, Jaime Alverio-Ramos, who was joined by the First Lady, Angélica Figueroa-Ramos, their children Stefany and Anthony, and their grandson Dario, said in his speech that “San Lorenzo has been recognized as a town where the ideal of permanent union and equal rights has thrived strongly. That is why many call us, with affection and pride, the ‘51st State’ … Being Puerto Rican and demanding equality are not contradictory. On the contrary. From our Puerto Rican identity, from our culture, our flag, our music, our faith, and our traditions, we also affirm our American citizenship and our right to live in full equality.”  

In addition, San Lorenzo native, Representative and former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, José Aponte-Hernández. served as the event’s keynote speaker.   During his speech, he said: “Today, more than three million U.S. citizens live in Puerto Rico who still do not fully enjoy the political equality proclaimed by those principles of 1776, nor do they enjoy constitutional recognition. Recognizing this reality does not mean rejecting the American project. Quite the contrary. It means believing so strongly in its principles that we demand they be fully applied. Criticism, when it stems from the desire to perfect democracy, is not un-American. It is profoundly American. Because the history of the United States shows that every generation has had the responsibility to expand freedom, strengthen equality, and protect the rights of those who previously did not fully enjoy them.”  

The proclamation for July 4, 2026—the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America—was read by Puerto Rico Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera, who emphasized: “The military contribution of Puerto Ricans to the defense of the United States constitutes one of the most distinguished chapters in our history. From the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, through World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the war in Afghanistan, and today’s military operations, generations of men and women have served with honor in defense of freedom, forging through their courage, sacrifice, and patriotism a legacy that is part of our nation’s history.”  

The events also included a special tribute to Dr. Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer, Mrs. Irma Rodríguez, Nesdiel Y. Rivera-Santana, and retired Master Sergeant Héctor L. Muñoz, in recognition of their contributions to public, community, and military service.  

The event concluded with a parade featuring members of public safety agencies, the Puerto Rico National Guard, veterans’ organizations, and representatives of the United States Armed Forces, reaffirming Puerto Rico’s ties and place within the United States and its history.  

As a legacy of the event, a mural by artist Kaliany Serrano was unveiled, featuring the flags of the United States and Puerto Rico alongside the America 250 Puerto Rico logo. In addition, a time capsule will be buried in the plaza to preserve all that was experienced during these celebrations “and remind you, on the 300th anniversary of the Fourth of July, that there was a generation here that believed in the future. That believed in Puerto Rico. That believed in equality,” explained the Governor.  

The event continued with musical performances by Luva, Yolandita Monge, and Manny Manuel.

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