More than 1,000 Flushing residents gathered at Francis Lewis High School on June 29 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with State Sen. John Liu, sealing a community time capsule that will sit at a Queens library for the next 50 years, according to QNS.
The capsule, which contains family photos, artwork, letters, newspaper clippings, and New York Knicks championship relics, is set to be opened on July 4, 2076, the nation’s tricentennial. It will go on public display at the Flushing branch of Queens Public Library starting in early July, QNS reported.
Francis Lewis High School is named for the Queens resident and Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Queens Borough Historian Jason Antos delivered a historical account of Lewis at the event and called the celebration a “historic event.” “It is extraordinary to know that a signer of the Declaration of Independence lived here in 1776 and that his family and property paid the ultimate price at the hands of the British army,” Antos said, per QNS.
13 local students recited the Declaration of Independence to represent the original 13 colonies, and the winning essayist from Liu’s America 250 student essay contest gave a reading. Live performances came from 2Complicated, the Queens Oratorio Society, the New York Young Arts Foundation Chamber Ensemble, Sol Sharp Music Education, the Francis Lewis High School Band, and the JROTC Color Guard, QNS reported. The afternoon also included carnival games, a Fourth of July barbecue, and a photo opportunity with historical reenactors.
Liu described the turnout as “absolutely inspiring.” In a statement reported by QNS, he said: “We all have a role to play in making sure our country lives up to the vision of our Founding Fathers, and it was clear by the enthusiasm, patriotism and sense of community that every single one of us, young and old, is up to the task. Whether contributing a family photo to our community time capsule or sharing a note for a child yet to be born, everyone who participated helped preserve a piece of our history and give the next generation hope for the future.”
Dennis Walcott, president and CEO of Queens Public Library, said QPL is contributing its own items to the capsule: a Freedom to Read library card and QPL trading cards featuring branches across Queens. “We are honored to preserve this important historic record for future generations,” Walcott said in a statement to QNS, describing the contributions as reflecting “the values of access to information, intellectual freedom, and the diversity of our communities.”
The time capsule is set to go on display at Flushing Library in early July.
