PHILADELPHIA – The Pennsylvania State Senate held a ceremonial gathering Tuesday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia to honor America’s 250th birthday, said Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37).
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward presided over the meeting, which included senators representing all corners of the commonwealth as part of a partnership with America250PA.
“This is an historic year for America where we celebrate all the things that make our country special, as well as the sacrifices that were made to gain our independence and put us on the path to becoming the world power that we are today,” said Robinson. “Pennsylvania’s role in the founding of our nation cannot be understated, and today in Philadelphia – the birthplace of freedom where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed – we convened a special gathering of the PA Senate to pay tribute to the foundational events that played out here 250 years ago. It was an honor to participate in this historic gathering as part of the many celebratory semiquincentennial events planned throughout this commonwealth.”
The United States declared its independence in Philadelphia in 1776, and to this day the Keystone State continues to play a major role in the growth and evolution of the nation. The ceremonial gathering of the Pennsylvania State Senate is a historical tradition.
Today marked the fourth meeting of the Pennsylvania State Senate in the last 100 years that has taken place outside of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The previous three meetings were also held in Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of Declaration of Independence in 1926, and the 200th anniversary of the Declaration’s signing in 1976. The Pennsylvania State Senate held a similar gathering in September 1987 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution.