America250PA visits Greene County in kickoff tour
State and local leaders touted America’s semiquincentennial and the ways Pennsylvanians will be able to celebrate it locally during America250PA events in Southwestern Pennsylvania Saturday.
The organization held kickoff events in Greene and Fayette counties Saturday as part of a statewide tour. Those were followed by visits to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Greene’s event, held at the Greene County Courthouse in Waynesburg, marked the 35th stop of the tour, which aims to hit every county in the state before a final visit to Philadelphia on Independence Day.
The goal is to make sure every county’s contributions to the stories of Pennsylvania and America are recognized, said Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA.
She began preparing for the 250th five years ago, visiting local counties to soak up the history and the importance of local celebrations like Waynesburg’s Rain Day.
“That’s what we want to do as a statewide commission, really tap into the local stories, the unique, the diverse stories, and highlight those for the nation and the world when they descend here in 2026,” she said.
Safety concerns due to the then-impending winter storm forced the cancellation of Washington County’s ceremony, planned for Saturday. After Saturday’s event in Greene County, America250PA also announced the cancellation of its Sunday ceremonies.
Coleman said Saturday she would work with Washington County to find another available date.
Last year, America250PA enacted another county-by-county project, holding ceremonies unveiling replicas of the Liberty Bell painted by local artists with artwork depicting the counties’ distinctive histories.
So far this year, Greene County is also planning Independence Day celebrations tying into America250PA in Waynesburg and Carmichaels. There will also be an America250PA event at this year’s Greene County Fair, Greene County Board Chairman Jared Edgreen said.
The county dates back to 1796, when it was split off from Washington County and named after Nathanael Greene, one of the most accomplished Revolutionary War generals.
Edgreen pointed to the traits that make Greene County stand out, whether it’s the fourth-largest natural gas production in the state, its educational resources or the fairs that celebrate the area’s agricultural heritage.
“We do have a rich history here, and it’s a good thing to celebrate this and remind ourselves of where we came from,” Edgreen said. “…We’re not called the Keystone State for nothing. We were a pivotal part of founding this nation, and it’s something to be proud of.”
In researching Greene County, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity found parallels to her home of Bradford County. Both had a long history of agriculture: cows for Bradford, sheep for Greene. And both have powered America through its natural resources, from coal to the natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.
“Everywhere I go, I see hard-working families looking for opportunities for the next generation, just like those that came to Penn’s Woods centuries before us,” she said. “…We all come from different backgrounds. Some of us have different political perspectives. But America is our home, Pennsylvania is our home, and nothing will ever come between us coming together to celebrate the freedoms that we are so blessed to enjoy.”
America250PA is also offering a series of statewide events and initiatives, such as $250,000 in scholarships to Pennsylvania high school seniors who will be attending an in-state college or university for the 2026-27 academic year. Students can apply online until Saturday at bit.ly/3NvSfn7.
Other events will include regional concerts and a lecture series on the people, events and ideals that shaped Pennsylvania and the country.
“This is all part of a shared effort, one that reaches into every county and every community,” Coleman said. “No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, there is a place for you in this milestone: to learn, to serve, to reflect, but most importantly, to celebrate together.”