For 250 years, Americans have navigated disagreements, debates, and shared aspirations. At its core, the nation remains committed to freedom, with self-governance and free speech standing as cornerstones of the American experiment.

As the nation marks another Independence Day, festivities abound with both celebration and friction. The framers’ vision of creating a “more perfect union” resonates through debates that spotlight America’s enduring pursuit of its ideals.

America celebrates 250 years of independence, and the Verde Valley is pulling out all the stops. Clarkdale’s Old Fashioned 4th of July event, starting bright and early at 7 a.m., is just one of many ways to commemorate this momentous milestone.