Queen Creek council celebrates nation’s 250th anniversary

A proclamation honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary provided the Queen Creek Town Council an opportunity to honor a resident, show off new artwork and tout America250 activities.

“Queen Creek is celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary throughout the entire year of 2026 with a variety of programs and activities that engage Queen Creek residents to be civic-minded, celebrate patriotism and be QC neighborly,” according to the proclamation that was read by Vice Mayor Bryan McClure during the council’s June 15 meeting.

The council also took the occasion to “unveil” a special addition to the community chambers.

“It’s fitting that as we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary this evening, we’re also unveiling a brand-new piece of artwork here in our community chambers reinforcing our nation’s motto of ‘In God We Trust,’” McClure said.

The town manager’s office and the communications and marketing team worked with the QC Artist Guild to create a painting that would include the motto.

The painting features an American flag in a desert setting with the San Tan Mountains in the background. The town logo is placed on the top left of the painting, and on the top right, in script, is the phrase from the U.S. Constitution “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

The motto “In God We Trust” is placed on the bottom left-hand side of the painting.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law making “In God We Trust” the official motto of the nation, although the phrase first appeared on U.S. coins as early as 1864. The federal Act of July 11, 1965, directed that the motto be on all currency.

An Act of Congress in 1782 adopted E pluribus unum — Out of many, one — as the motto for the Seal of the United States and has been used on currency since 1795.

The council also honored a 9-year-old Queen Creek girl who is one of 125 national winners — and one of only three from Arizona — of the America’s Field Trip celebrating the nation’s 250 anniversary.

For her field trip, Kitelynn Nickerson is visiting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and will be among the first Americans to go to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota after it opens on July 4.

The home-schooled student won for her drawing of the contest’s theme of “What does America mean to you.” She was chosen from a group of more than 1,000 semifinalists.

She drew a tree symbolizing that nation’s past, present and hopes for the future.

“We are so proud of Kitelynn for representing Queen Creek at the national level,” McClure said.

The vice mayor also called on residents to take part in various America250 activities such as the 4th of July Splash Bash at the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center and “America’s Potluck” on July 5.

He also encouraged people to drop off cases of water at Fire Station No. 1, 20678 E. Civic Parkway, to help the Queen Creek Fire & Medical Department collect 250 cases “to support our vulnerable residents during the hot summer months.”

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.