President Donald Trump announced Thursday the opening of “Spirit of ’76” at Freedom Plaza, a new exhibition in Washington, D.C., honoring what he called the heroes and martyrs of the American Revolution.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the exhibition includes an equestrian statue of Founding Father Caesar Rodney, statues of 12 Revolutionary War soldiers and a set of reliefs honoring the Prison Ship Martyrs.
Trump said nearly 12,000 Americans died aboard British prison ships during the war — more, he wrote, than in all of the war’s battles combined.
A central bronze statue, “Spirit of Liberty,” anchors the exhibition. Trump described it as crowned in a wreath of victory and holding the Declaration of Independence with a sword pointed to the sky.
In a second post, Trump likened the opening to Rodney’s ride 250 years ago. He said Rodney rode 80 miles overnight from Dover, Del., to Philadelphia on July 2, 1776, to cast a pivotal vote for independence.
“This is an exhibition that opens as the nation is gearing up for its 250th birthday.” — President Donald Trump
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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