VERO BEACH — Personalized letters from principals to students, a Fellsmere map, Sebastian Centennial Magazine, a sample of Orchid Island honey, a crate label trail map and the last minted pennies are just a few items placed in a time capsule that will be opened 50 years from now. Proclamations honoring the stories of civic-minded pioneers who helped make improvements throughout Indian River County are some features that leaders hope will inspire the next generation who will unearth the vault. Treasured local history will be buried in the vault as Americans celebrate Independence Day with semi-quincentennial commemorations around the country this weekend. "This capsule includes a message to future residents reminding them that communities thrive when people choose kindness over division, service over self-interest, and hope over cynicism," said Deryl Loar, chairman of the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners. Several government organizations and community sponsors participated in the community-wide time capsule initiative and ceremony held Friday, July 3 at the Heritage Center in downtown Vero Beach. The capsule contains sixteen individual canisters, each representing Indian River County, its unincorporated communities, municipalities and towns, as well as organizations and businesses. The canisters were placed in the vault under the flagpole at the Heritage Center, 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. "It was important for me to get all the community involved," said Vero Beach Councilman Aaron Vos, co-chair of the USA All Day Pioneers to Paradise committee that hosted the time capsule ceremony. "This is a way to embrace the community as a whole on a significant event - the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding." Vero Beach Vice-Mayor Taylor Dingle's son, 19-month-old Elias, was named as First Keeper of the time capsule. The vault will be opened July 4, 2076. "We are not simply burying documents, photographs, maps, newsletters, and keepsakes," Loar said. "We are preserving memory. We are honoring service. We are sending a message to the residents of 2076 that says: this is who we were, this is what we valued, and this is what we hoped you would inherit." Vos thanked city workers and staff for their help in preparing the time capsule event. The USA All Day Pioneers to Paradise committee has hosted events since May leading up to the City of Vero Beach Semi-quincentennial Independence Day Celebration. All information about the Fourth of July events taking place this weekend can be found on the <a href="https://www.covb.org/207/July-4th-Information">City of Vero Beach website</a>. [gallery ids="233913,233914,233915,233916,233917,233918,233919"]