As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, national parks across the nation surged to commemorate the occasion. To assist with the festivities, several members of the park staff at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site volunteered at holiday events at other parks around the country.

“The 250th anniversary commemorations demonstrated what the National Park Service does best,” said Nathan Wilson, superintendent of the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. “Employees from across the country deployed to support parks hosting nationally significant events, bringing the experience, professionalism and operational expertise needed to welcome millions of visitors.”

From the local national historic site, Joel Ehrlich worked at a Boston National Historical Park event in June and spent two weeks at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in early July, while Will Bowen and Sky Castilleja assisted at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.

“This servicewide effort reflects the strength of the National Park Service workforce and our commitment to providing outstanding visitor experiences while ensuring America’s national parks remain open and accessible to all,” Wilson said. “We thank every employee whose dedication and service made these historic commemorations possible.”

The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site held its own patriotic celebration, hosting an Independence Day Concert on July 4 to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The concert featured the band White Haven Brass, a quintet of staff members and volunteers from the park, in a “spirited” performance on the front lawn of White Haven. The band played “classic patriotic favorites,” as well as marching songs that were sung by Union soldiers and supporters in the time of the Civil War.