Flag Day Celebration & US@250: Big Watch

Flag Day Celebration & US@250: Big Watch Sunday, June 14, 2026, 12-2:30 PM At Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, NH Celebrate Flag Day at Strawbery Banke Museum with a meaningful afternoon of community, history, and civic engagement. Presented in collaboration with Portsmouth Historical Society and the Association of Historical Societies of NH, the program begins with a Flag Day ceremony, followed by family-friendly activities and refreshments, and continues with a special screening and discussion as part of a nationwide initiative. Free and open to the public. Seating for the film screening, panel discussion, and children’s craft activity is limited; advance registration is encouraged. Program Schedule: 12:00 PM – Flag Day Ceremony (near the Liberty Pole, Museum side of Marcy Street) 12:30 PM – Children’s craft activity & refreshments 1:00 PM – US@250: Big Watch Screening (Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center) 1:30–2:30 PM – US@250: Big Watch Panel Discussion (Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center) US@250: Big Watch: Join us to commemorate and reflect upon the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a film screening and discussion! Together, we’ll watch a short excerpt from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, followed by a community discussion. The featured segment from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, “The Spirit of Service,” explores service as a core American value, from the nation’s founding through to the present day – examining volunteerism, civic participation, public leadership, and more. The program includes a thoughtful conversation about “remembering together,” considering questions such as: What moments from our past define who we are and point to a shared future? What are the key historical moments in your town’s or community’s history? How does focusing on these moments shape your sense of your community’s future? Interested in watching the entire film series? Learn more here: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution Following the screening, a live panel discussion features regional leaders in law, education, and civic life. Panelists will share diverse perspectives on civic responsibility, participation, and the evolving meaning of democracy. Facilitator: Courtney Marshall, New Hampshire Humanities Panelists: Allyson Ryder, Executive Director, NH Civics Dr. Nancy Pearson, Former City Councilor and local government advocate Claudia Wu, Co-founder and Co-director, Center for Civic Engagement and Service at Newton North Big Watch programs are made possible by a partnership between New Hampshire Humanities and New Hampshire PBS, with support from Cogswell Benevolent Trust. Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major fu...