Opinion

DAVID MARCUS: As the nation bickers, small-town America still loves a parade

While Josh Shapiro refused to join national celebrations, Frostburg University student Jalen Grimm handed out pocket constitutions along the route

By David Marcus Fox News

Published June 27, 2026 4:31pm EDT

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Thousands celebrate America 250 at Great American State Fair in DC

Fox News correspondent Alex Hogan reports from the National Mall, where thousands are celebrating America's 250th birthday at the Great American State Fair, featuring exhibits, performances and family-friendly events on 'Fox Report.'

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CUMBERLAND, Md. – Like many small towns in Appalachia, this place is a liberal blue spec in a conservative red county. So I was curious to see if this hamlet could pull off an "America 250" parade that would really bring the entire community together.

Amid the buzz, the flags and patriotic T-shirts, I found Melinda Kelleher, the Main Street manager who was heavily involved with the planning. When I started to ask if that was a challenge in these divisive times, I couldn’t even end my sentence before she answered, "Yes."

But the town tackled this challenge, Kelleher told me.

"We wanted an event that could really bring the community together," she said, adding that there has been a revitalization of downtown Cumberland. "We have had 30 new shops open."

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