Dear America,
Happy birthday!
A momentous 250 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was crafted with audacious ideals that became the backbone of our great country. As we mark this milestone, we honor those founding principles and look ahead with optimism in what can still be achieved.
During his time working in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Jimmy Gray drafted the very legislation establishing the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. Nearly a decade later, America 250 is bringing communities together to commemorate the nation’s past while inspiring conversations about the future.
America has always been shaped by people willing to take initiative, embrace risk, invest in their communities, work together to solve problems and see possibilities rather than obstacles.
Those same qualities are evident across the Grand Strand today. Every day, residents launch businesses, create jobs, mentor future leaders, volunteer their time and collaborate to address challenges no single person can solve alone. Through their efforts, they strengthen our communities and help make this region a place where people want to live, work, visit and raise a family.
The prosperity we enjoy today did not happen by accident. It is the result of generations of people choosing to invest their time, talent and resources in something larger than themselves.
The same spirit that helped build this nation can still be found in entrepreneurs willing to take a chance, leaders willing to think beyond the next quarter, and residents who come together around a common purpose to strengthen the communities they call home.
As we celebrate this historic milestone, we are grateful for the freedoms that make opportunities possible and inspired by what can be accomplished when people work together to build a brighter future.
The best way to honor the first 250 years is to keep building the next.
Sincerely,
The Greater Myrtle Beach Collaborative