Mayor Janet Wampler

​Mayor's Message: Honoring America's 250th Anniversary
By Mayor Janet Wampler - 27June 2026
 
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, we pause with gratitude and reverence for the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and vision of those who came before us. Two and a half centuries ago, our nation's founders embarked upon an uncertain journey, accepting tremendous personal risk in pursuit of a radical idea: that free people have both the right and the responsibility to govern themselves.
 
When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, it was more than a separation from a distant government. It was a declaration of a timeless principle, that legitimate government derives its power from the consent of the governed, and that citizens are capable of shaping their own destiny. The founders believed that communities thrive when people take responsibility for their future and work together to build something greater than themselves.
 
Those ideals remain as relevant today as they were 250 years ago.
 
The freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today were not handed to us. They were earned through perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief that a better future was worth the effort required to create it. The signers of the Declaration pledged to one another "their Lives, their Fortunes, and their sacred Honor" because they understood that liberty and self-government carry both privileges and responsibilities.
 
As a newly incorporated city, our own story reflects many of those same principles. While our circumstances are far different from those faced by our nation's founders, the spirit required to meet our challenges is remarkably similar. Incorporation was not simply a change in governance; it was a commitment to stewardship. It was a decision to take greater responsibility for our future, to embrace local self-determination, and to actively shape the community we want to become.
 
America's 250-year story reminds us of an enduring truth: nothing worth having comes easy. Strong nations and strong communities are not built by spectators. They are built by citizens who step forward, shoulder responsibility, and contribute their time, talents, and efforts to a cause greater than themselves.
 
President Theodore Roosevelt captured this spirit in his famous "Man in the Arena" speech, reminding us that credit belongs not to the critic, but to the one "whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; [the person] who strives valiantly” despite setbacks and criticism. Progress has always belonged to those willing to enter the arena, to do the difficult work, and to persevere when the path forward is uncertain.
 
Our city's story is being written by people in the arena every day. It is written by residents who volunteer their time, serve on committees, attend public meetings, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in the civic life of our community. It is written by those who understand that self-government is not a spectator sport, but a shared responsibility.
 
Every ordinance debated, every budget balanced, every volunteer hour contributed, and every act of service reflects the same enduring belief that ordinary citizens can accomplish extraordinary things when they work together. The success of our city is not guaranteed; it will be earned through the dedication and collective efforts of people who believe in the future of Ogden Valley.
 
As we commemorate America's 250th anniversary, let us honor the legacy of those who built this nation by embracing the values that made their success possible: courage, perseverance, personal responsibility, civic engagement, and faith in the future. Let us remember that the rights we cherish are sustained by the responsibilities we accept, and that the future we desire will be built through the work we are willing to do today.
 
May we honor the legacy of 1776 not only with gratitude, but with action. May we continue to serve, contribute, participate, and lead. And may we remain worthy of the responsibility entrusted to us to preserve, strengthen, and pass forward the blessings of liberty and community to future generations.
 
Together, we will continue building a city, and a future, that reflect the very best of the American spirit.
 
Happy 250th Anniversary, America.
 
- Mayor Janet Wampler