02/27/2026
Brothers and Sisters in Service,
We write to you not as a single post, nor as a single organization—but as veterans who believe that the 250th Birthday of the United States deserves to be honored with the unity, reverence, and integrity it commands.
As you are aware, Okaloosa County and several municipalities and organizations are moving forward with plans to hold the official 250th Birthday celebration of our Nation on May 9th rather than July 4th.
Let us be clear:
Independence Day is July 4th.
For 250 years, Americans have recognized July 4th as the birth of our Nation. That date is not symbolic or flexible. It is the day our independence was declared and the foundation of every freedom we swore to defend.
Many of us served under that flag.
Many of us buried friends beneath it.
All of us carried the weight of what July 4th represents.
Okaloosa County is home to one of the most patriotic populations in the country, anchored by installations such as Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. We are a military community. A veteran community. A community built on sacrifice and service.
Yet no meaningful input was sought from the Veteran Service Organizations in this county before the decision was made to move this historic milestone two months early.
Meanwhile, many of the same cities and entities supporting a May celebration intend to continue hosting their own July 4th events—events that will proceed as usual. This raises a difficult but necessary question: if July 4th remains the chosen date for individual celebrations, why is the official 250th Birthday being separated from it?
This is not about politics.
This is not about control.
This is about principle.
Fragmenting this once-in-a-generation milestone risks:
· Diminishing the symbolic power of July 4th.
· Weakening VSO engagement and visibility on the very day that reflects our shared sacrifice.
· Sending the message that convenience outweighs commemoration.
· Creating division instead of unity within a county that should be standing shoulder to shoulder.
The 250th Birthday of the United States should not be treated as another event on a calendar. It is a generational marker. It is an opportunity for every city, every organization, every veteran group, and every citizen to come together on the true date of our Nation’s birth.
We are asking you to stand with us.
We respectfully urge your organization to:
· Contact Okaloosa County officials and participating municipalities.
· Request that the official 250th Birthday celebration be aligned with July 4th.
· Publicly advocate for unity among VSOs on this matter.
· Engage your membership and encourage respectful outreach.
When veterans speak individually, we are voices.
When we speak collectively, we are a force.
The members of American Legion Post 75 believe that this issue rises above any single post or organization. It affects all of us who wore the uniform and all who stand in defense of our Nation’s founding principles.
We cannot allow the 250th Birthday of the United States to become fragmented, commercialized, or misaligned from its true and historic date.
For 250 years, Independence Day has been July 4th.
Let us ensure that when history looks back at this milestone, it sees a veteran community that stood firm, spoke clearly, and protected the integrity of the day we fought to preserve.
On behalf of concerned veterans and patriots,
Including members of American Legion Post 75.
In unity and service,
Robert ‘Oz’ Osmon
The American Legion
District 1 Commander
