Lebanon County celebrates unveiling of local mosaic for 250th anniversary

“E pluribus unum” is a Latin phrase meaning “out of many, one.”

That’s an apt description of Lebanon County’s America250PA mosaic, which made its grand entrance Tuesday at a dedication ceremony at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds. 

In a ceremony worthy of the arrival of dignitaries, the mosaic unveiling was part of the “Our Country, Our County, Our Mosaic” program to generate enthusiasm and to promote the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration of the nation’s birthday on July 4, 2026.

On that day, a special celebration will be held to mark the country’s semiquincentennial birthdate at the county fairgrounds. While many activities still have to be planned, a highlight will be the annual fireworks show, which is being moved one-time only from Coleman Memorial Park to the fairgrounds for this event. 

This week, the work of about 1,100 artistic contributors for the mosaic was announced to about 100 attendees at the ceremony, which began with fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle” during the Presentation of the Colors by four members of the Keystone Challenge Academy.

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Matthew Darragh, chief of staff for Pennsylvania250, was the first of several ceremony speakers to invoke the Latin phrase to describe the mosaic, which is sponsored by Lebanon Federal Credit Union.

“I attended Catholic school and my Latin teacher would be proud that I remember ‘E pluribus unum,’ you know, ‘out of many, one,’ and I think it’s a good metaphor for this mosaic and for the work that we do at the commission,” Darragh said. “We’re empowering local communities to make the most of this commemoration.

“And when I think of that national motto, and I think of the idea of a mosaic of different members of this community coming together with different perspectives, different ideas on what is important about both Lebanon County and this anniversary, and coming together to form something beautiful and meaningful and lasting, I’m very proud to be a small part of this work and to again help facilitate what’s going on here.”

Bonnie Loy, chairman of the Lebanon PA250 committee, emphasized what Darragh said about many contributions to the mosaic, which is an American flag waving while fireworks explode around it. 

“It took many hands to bring it to fruition, but you will be inspired when you see it. George Washington also quoted, ‘Character is the bedrock for success, for it shapes our actions, earns us respect, and inspires others to greatness,’” Loy said. “And as someone said earlier, ‘E pluribus unum’ – ‘out of many, one.’ I want to remind you that many pieces, many people, many hands became one, especially by the artist that installed all those pieces.”

Artist Linda Billet said she lost the official count but believes there are 1,100 tiles in the mosaic. Billet, a Hummelstown resident who has lived in Lebanon County during different periods of her life, has made other mosaics, and her work has been exhibited in galleries across the region.

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“You can make a mosaic, but nobody but us could have made this mosaic, and you’re gonna see how special it is. And I just want to say, first of all, like, when somebody’s making, you know, art this big, that’s – that’s harder than you think,” Billet said. “And, you know, we only had like a certain amount of time.

“So like if you have, you know, brown to make a pretzel, it still would have been hard, but the people that worked on this had one color to work with. Like the white tiles are all white. So it’s white on white. The red is red on red, so you have to have enough detail for somebody to know what’s there without the color and everything.”

Jennifer Kuzo, president/CEO of Visit Lebanon Valley, noted that she had contributed a piece that represents Lebanon Lilly, the tourism office’s official mascot. The agency is partnering with the anniversary committee for the 250th anniversary celebration.

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“As a fellow Lebanon County teammate of our 250 Committee, it’s an honor to stand before you today as we come together to commemorate a truly historic milestone in our journey to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, Lebanon County style,” Kuzo said. “We are a nation built on the promise of freedom and these are the seeds planted by our founders.”

Kuzo added the ceremony was to honor the past, present and future.

“So today, we gather not only to honor our legacy, but to reflect on how far we’ve come and the journey that still lies ahead of us,” she said. “This stunning art installation, which you will see in just a few minutes, is so much more than the pieces of glass tile. … It’s a living symbol of our shared American story, shaped by the hands and the hearts of Lebanon County from all walks of life.”

Kuzo noted that Visit Lebanon Valley received a grant for the mosaic to be created.

“Visit Lebanon Valley was lucky enough to receive the PA250 grant for this art project and months and months in the making,” she said. “This piece of history won’t be found in the textbooks, but it’s alive in our communities, in our traditions, and in our families. It’s art that we created to remember, to challenge, and to celebrate who we are.”

Lebanon County Commission chairman Mike Kuhn said he has gratitude for the mosaic being created. 

“I’m grateful to live in the greatest country on this Earth and call Lebanon County my home. This project is just one example of why I’m grateful,” Kuhn said. “Good people working together for the betterment of our community and our country. The mosaic is a permanent symbol of an important milestone in our history of that great nation and a perfect model of what Lebanon County is all about.”

The program included an invocation by former Lt. Col. Douglas Etter, communications director at the Lebanon Veterans Administration Hospital, who thanked God for the freedoms Americans enjoy. 

There was also the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution by local 250th anniversary committee members portraying Ben Franklin and Martha Washington, and the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the singing group 3-part harmony that followed the mosaic’s unveiling. 

“We’re trying to reach out to the public. So if any of you have collections or know someone that has a collection or have a show or an event or maybe a dance group or local talent. Any background, anything you have, I would love it if you’d consider reaching out to the committee and sharing it with all of your local neighbors on July 4, 2026,” Loy announced to the audience, just prior to the Retiring of the Colors.

At these events, anniversary merchandise will be sold and information about the nation’s anniversary celebration will be available for distribution to local residents.