Journey will honor values highlighted in America’s founding documents, Utah’s pioneer heritage
U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today announced plans to embark on a multi-day, 250-mile walk across Utah in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Averaging 30 miles of walking per day, the Senator will start his journey near the northern border of Utah and end in his hometown of Provo on the Fourth of July.
As previewed in an opinion piece published in the Deseret News, Senator Curtis will use the occasion to highlight the values enshrined in the United States’ founding documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—and those exhibited by Utah’s pioneer settlers.
As you all know, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—America’s semi-quincentennial, if you will.
We recognize some of the most consequential moments in human history: A citizens’ army of patriots winning their independence from the greatest empire of the 18th century. And while accomplishing that military miracle, they forged diverse peoples, interests, and cultures into a unified experiment in democracy. Guided by Providence, the cause of those patriots prevailed, and the American experiment thrives even 250 years later.
This moment invites us to look beyond the partisan politics of our time and deeply reflect on the underlying principles and values enshrined in our founding documents that have shaped our nation for generations.
I’ve long thought about how I can best honor this occasion as Utah’s United States Senator. So, I’m announcing that starting next week, I’m going to walk 250 miles starting near the northern border of our state and ending in Provo at the Stadium of Fire on the Fourth of July.
Averaging about 30 miles per day, I will walk through our local communities, having Utahns join me along the way, to reflect on and promote the distinctly American values consecrated in our founding documents, and also those exhibited by Utah’s pioneer settlers.
These values matter now more than ever, and it is our sacred obligation not just to speak of them, but to live them.
I hope you will follow along with me throughout this journey and reflect, yourselves, upon these values that make our families, our state, and our country so great.
Background:
- The walk will follow a 250-mile continuous route and happen over the course of nine days, starting on Friday, June 26 and ending on Saturday, July 4.
- The route will begin near Bear Lake in Dingle, Idaho, the birthplace of the Senator’s mother. He will conclude the journey by walking into the Stadium of Fire event at BYU’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo—the city where he currently resides and previously served as mayor.
- Through a series of daily vlogs and other media materials, Curtis will showcase distinctly American values, including liberty, magnanimity, prudence, fortitude, and others, while also highlighting his experiences traversing through the state.
