California Makes History: America 250 Lights Up the State Capitol

On the evening of July 1, California made history on the West Steps of the State Capitol. Hosted by Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) and his staff, alongside members of the newly formed California Legislative Veteran Caucus, the America 250 Capitol Celebration brought legislators, service members, community leaders, and patriots together for one purpose: to celebrate 250 years of the United States of America.

And for the first time in California history, the State Capitol itself joined the celebration — its dome and facade illuminated in red, white, and blue, lighting the Sacramento sky in the colors of the flag. It was a sight no Californian had ever seen before, and one the crowd will not soon forget.

The evening carried moments that felt bigger than any single speech or ceremony. As the national anthem rang out over the Capitol grounds, a formation of fighter jets out of Beale Air Force Base roared overhead in a flyover timed to the music — a moment that stopped the crowd in its tracks and set the tone for everything that followed.

At the podium, Assemblyman Gonzalez, a Marine Corps veteran, offered patriotic words of encouragement rooted in his own story — a personal account of service, sacrifice, and the promise this country makes to those willing to defend it. He reminded the crowd that America’s 250th birthday is not just a look backward, but a charge to carry the nation’s founding ideals forward for the next 250 years. Gonzalez took time to recognize the service members in attendance and spoke to the true makeup of our safety and our nation — the teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and everyday citizens who, alongside those in uniform, keep this country strong and free.

Gonzalez was followed by Nick Busse, founder of Veterans of California, who spoke about what makes the United States exceptional — the value of calling yourself an American, and the truth that the nation’s foundation of freedom has always been protected by its veterans.

His speech landed as a powerful reminder, as he said: “With every cell of my body, I am proud to call myself a veteran and proud to call myself an American. And I will never apologize for it — and neither should you. The opposite of freedom is captivity, and thank God, we do not have to surrender to it.”

Busse also pointed to the scale of California’s veteran community: roughly 1.4 million veterans call the Golden State home, one of the largest veteran populations of any state in the country. They live, work, and serve in every one of California’s 58 counties. Veterans, Busse said, are the backbone of California — today, tomorrow, and into the future.

The crowd reflected that reach. Members of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force stood in uniform alongside veterans representing every branch of service. They were joined by Assemblyman David Tangipa, Senator Bob Archuleta, Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, Lance Izumi — Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army — and so many other leaders from Sacramento and beyond who came to stand shoulder to shoulder with the veteran community.

The presence of the California Legislative Veteran Caucus gave the evening added weight. The caucus — newly formed and bipartisan by design — signals that veteran issues in California are no longer a side conversation in the Capitol. With 1.4 million veterans statewide, and tens of thousands transitioning out of uniform each year, the men and women who served now have an organized voice inside the building that was glowing red, white, and blue behind them.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, thirteen colonies declared that freedom was worth everything. On July 1, on the West Steps of the California State Capitol, a new generation of Americans — legislators and lance corporals, senators and sergeants, Gold Star families and grateful neighbors — declared that it still is.

The Capitol has stood in Sacramento since 1874. It took until 2026 for it to wear the colors of the flag. It was worth the wait — and if this evening was any indication, it will not be the last time California lights the sky in red, white, and blue.

Happy 250th birthday, America. California was proud to celebrate you.