President Trump on Friday announced the opening of a “Spirit of ‘76” exhibit on Freedom Plaza in the nation’s capital.
The exhibit features “heroes and martyrs” from the American Revolution, such as Caesar Rodney of Delaware, who famously rode 70 miles to Philadelphia to cast a decisive vote for independence despite suffering from asthma and facial cancer.
Rodney is featured on horseback in the statue exhibit, which also features a bronze statue of “Spirit of Liberty,” who is crowned in a wreath and wields the Declaration of Independence and a sword.
“Everyone should see this new Exhibition!” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The exhibit features soldiers of the American Revolution and a set of reliefs honoring 12,000 Americans who died in squalid conditions aboard British prison ships during the war.
“More Americans died on these prison ships than in all of the War’s battles combined — Many of whom willingly endured suffering and death rather than renounce the Patriot cause,” Mr. Trump wrote.
The president is set to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on Saturday with a long speech, military flyovers and a fireworks display in the heart of Washington.
The statue exhibit is part of a series of events in the run-up to the big day, including the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
“As we prepare to celebrate the 250th Birthday of our beloved Country, these statues and monuments now stand prominently in the heart of our Nation’s Capital as a celebration of the 250-year Triumph of the American Spirit, which is now STRONGER, GREATER, and MORE GLORIOUS than ever before!” Mr. Trump said on social media.
