VERO BEACH — State and local officials have a series of events lined up to honor America’s 250th birthday, along with President George Washington’s birthday as a state holiday. Vero Beach will host a parade on July 4, while state officials will offer free admission to Florida parks and other state-owned lands during President’s Day weekend.
State offices will close on Feb. 16 in honor of Washington’s birthday as a paid holiday in Florida for the first time as part of the America250 initiative. Washington’s birthday is already recognized as a federal holiday.
“They have president’s day. It’s federal. Florida does not recognize it,” DeSantis said during a Friday news conference at The Heritage Center. “It was really (to celebrate) Washington’s birthday.”
Several dignitaries were in attendance during the heavily attended event, including Secretary of State Cord Byrd along with President and CEO of Visit Florida Bryan Griffin, both of whom made remarks. The city events will be separate from the state events.
“(State) employees will have the day off (on President’s Day), which I know they’re not going to complain about,” DeSantis said from the podium at The Heritage Center, a non-partisan, historic venue located at 2140 14th Ave. in downtown Vero Beach. “We’re going to have a series of events that weekend that will help celebrate the birthday of George Washington.”
State celebrations
State officials will partner with NASCAR to sponsor the America250 Florida Duel at Daytona set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. at Daytona International Speedway. The event will be the start of Speedweek at Daytona. The next day, at 7:30 p.m. Friday Feb. 13, NASCAR will host the Fresh From Florida 250 race at Daytona to celebrate America’s birthday and Florida’s history.
DeSantis said all fees will be waived for admission to state-owned public lands, including parks, wildlife management lands, water management lands, and historic properties from Feb. 12 through Feb. 16.
“You can enjoy that free of charge,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said Florida will also sponsor an essay contest for students about America’s 250th birthday. Students who participate can be eligible for one of 14 scholarships to help pay for state colleges or universities.
“I think this will be a great time for students to compete and think long and hard about America 250,” DeSantis said.
Further details on how to participate will be released later, DeSantis said.
Vero Beach celebrations
Vero Beach will host its own U.S. Semi-quincentennial celebration this summer by hosting a parade, along with an antique car show, a veterans’ event, bounce houses for children, fireworks show and more. Vero Beach will partner with Indian River County to hold the events.
“Normally we don’t have a parade. Since it’s the 250th anniversary of America, we can do a little bit more. That’s why we added the parade,” said Aaron Vos, Vero Beach Councilman, who added that he was thrilled that DeSantis came to visit Vero Beach.
“We’re also looking to add a time capsule right here at The Heritage Center at a 50-year cycle so children today can say they remember when they were kids when the capsule was put in. We’ll get the last batch of pennies that were made in the U.S. put in the capsule.”
The parade in Vero Beach to honor America’s 250th birthday will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4. Vos said the parade in Vero will not interfere with the City of Sebastian’s annual Fourth of July Parade, which starts at 8 a.m.
The Vero route will begin at 25th Street then travel to 14th Avenue and end at Vero Beach High School, according to Vos.
An antique car show will take place about the same time at the old Railroad Train Station, 2336 14th Avenue, Vero Beach. A veteran’s event will take place about 4:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary on the barrier island, Vos said.
The Riptide band will play at 5:30 p.m. Bounce houses, a pie-eating contest, food trucks, and other activities will take place at Riverside Park.
The enhanced fireworks show will take place at 9 p.m., Vos said.
Founding America
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Vero Beach usually celebrates the Fourth of July with a fireworks show at Riverside Park.
“When (the founding fathers) went out on this journey 250 years ago, they knew they were bucking the tide of history. Republics had been attempted but all failed. (The founding fathers) were likely to fail,” DeSantis said. “They said ‘we’re going to determine once and for all…can people govern themselves or not?'”
George Washington holiday
The birthday for the first president of America, often called President’s Day to include other U.S. presidents, is already celebrated as a federal holiday on the third Monday in February each year. DeSantis gave attendees a history lesson on Washington, who served as commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and later became the first commander-in-chief of America.
“Washington is in a class by himself as the founder of this country,” DeSantis said. “He was indispensable. He led the war effort against the British.”
DeSantis talked about Washington’s impact founding the U.S.
“(Washington’s) name is on a lot of things in America…Washington D.C., Washington state…but people don’t really think about what he meant (to America),” DeSantis said. “He’s not quoted the way Lincoln would be. I think the character and virtue that (Washington) showed is second-to-none.”
The Heritage Center
A piece of Indian River County’s history is preserved within The Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum. The citrus museum is located inside the center.
The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1935. The center serves as an event venue for weddings, parties, retreats and more, while the museum showcases artifacts, photographs and memorabilia of pioneers of the citrus industry, representatives say.
The museum also has collections of historic crate labels that highlight Indian River citrus fruit.
Friday’s event was the first time that Byrd visited The Heritage Center. Byrd said having a news conference about America’s 250th birthday at the center was perfect.
“It’s not only telling the story of America but Florida’s story in America. Having (the news conference) at this location was very meaningful,” Byrd said. “Agriculture has been a tremendous part of our state history. Seeing the history of the citrus industry in this region and across Florida…it’s really important.”
Byrd said Florida is much more than beaches and theme parks.
‘What we’re doing with America250 is trying to tell that entire story of Florida, not just the things that are most popular.”
Both the center and museum are managed by Vero Heritage, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit aimed toward celebrating Indian River County’s history and cultural heritage.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
