Alexandra S. Byser, Rising Junior at GHSSecond place, Gloucester, Va. Two hundred-fifty years of war, change, and tradition have formed our country into the nation it is today. The signing of the Declaration of Independence made it possible for colonies to break away from a tyrannical king, which created a nation established on freedom. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, we “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” To me, the 250th anniversary of the United States of America is not just a celebration, but it highlights America’s journey and progression through adverse times, a diverse people, and historical events to obtain this freedom we all deserve. This year signifies the strengths that our nation has exhibited. We should celebrate the 250th anniversary by acknowledging the sacrifices and hard work that went into developing this nation through the obstacles it has encountered. The sac...