The Patrouille de France perform a flyover during the Sail4th 250 Tall Ships Parade along the Hudson River in New York on July 4th, 2026. | Photo by John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images The United States of America recently turned 250 years old. What a spectacle! The fireworks were amaz ing, and millions of proud people celebrated across the nation - even around the world. France lit up the Eiffel Tower; Japan had fireworks. French fighter jets flew above New York City with trails of red, white, and blue - our first major ally streaking our shared colors through the sky. Meanwhile, shameful white nationalists paraded through our nation's capital. This has always been a country of paradoxes. Our 250th birthday counts back to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The declaration was a radical and astonishing document that … Read the full story at The Verge. ...read more read less