A seventh grader at Thomas Hunter Middle School was among the honored guests at a program held at Mount Vernon on Jan. 7, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, alongside U.K. leadership, presented a “twin” time capsule to the U.S. Department of the Interior in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Last spring, Avelia Payne was one of several students who contributed to the Expression of Freedom contest. The contest asked students to send their art and poetry to express patriotic ideas for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Payne was among the selected winners and a copy of her art was placed under the statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square, London, within a 250-year time capsule.
Last week, Youngkin met at Mount Vernon with Deputy U.K. Prime Minister David Lammy and invited the students to join them at George Washington’s home for the presentation.
“As the birthplace of American independence and the home of George Washington, Virginia is honored to help lead this meaningful commemoration of our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Youngkin. “The presentation of this Time Capsule and Capstone to Secretary Burgum [U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum] and the Trump Administration reflects the enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom, a special relationship forged through history, strengthened by shared sacrifice, and sustained by our common commitment to liberty and self-government. This tribute connects our past to our future and reaffirms that the ideals that began in Virginia continue to unite free peoples on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The Time Capsule is a “twin” of the one placed under the fully restored George Washington Statue in London’s Trafalgar Square as part of the Friends of the Washington Statue rededication on June 18, 2025, leading up to the 250th. The Capstone is carved out of one of the original Portland limestone steps which were replaced as part of the restoration of the George Washington Statue. These artifacts will mirror key features of the restoration in London.
As part of the 250th anniversary in the spring of 2026, the Time Capsule and Capstone (funded with private donations through Friends of the Washington Statue) will be installed by the Trump Administration at the center of the National Mall under the Washington Monument Plaza to mirror their London counterparts. They will be placed beneath one of the plaza’s Cambria black granite flagstones (sourced from Canada, a U.K. commonwealth country) located on a direct line between the center of the Washington Monument and Trafalgar Square—a heading of forty-nine and a half degrees.
For more information, visit www.washingtonstatue.org.
Payne’s artwork showed an eagle holding a bayonet with the word “America.” Thomas Hunter Middle School art teacher Katie Witowski was instrumental in supporting Payne and helping her apply for the opportunity.
