1976 to 2026: Reflections on a Young Nation

 




It was 1976. America was celebrating its Bicentennial, fresh on the heels of Watergate and searching for steady ground. At the same time, my parents were in the prime of their careers, growing Swicegood Real Estate of Mocksville and moving into a brand-new office they had just built on Salisbury Street. I was nine years old, watching both my family and my country find their footing.

 

Kyle Swicegood as George Washington

That year, I played George Washington in Mocksville Elementary School’s Bicentennial celebration. My grandmother Gobble, lovingly sewed what I believe were three Revolutionary-style uniforms for me—complete with knickers and buttons. I didn’t just wear them for the play; I wore them proudly to school and even on a family trip to Williamsburg. It was a time filled with patriotism, community pride, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

 

Jerry Swicegood, AKA Landman
Now, nearly fifty years later, America is preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Looking back through the lens of my own age—and remembering how young my parents seemed then—it strikes me just how young our nation truly is. America has never claimed to be perfect. It has stumbled, struggled, and been shaped by both noble ideals and painful contradictions.
Judy Swicegood, AKA Landlady

 

Yet I thank God every day that I live here. There is no earthly utopia—that promise is eternal, not temporal. Still, I am grateful for the vision of our Founding Fathers who, even in an era marked by human enslavement, laid the groundwork for a document that ultimately rejected that injustice and pointed us toward a more perfect union.

As America approaches 250 years, I reflect not only on our nation’s journey, but on the people who shaped my own. Watching my parents build their business, serve their community, and live out their values during that season taught me lessons about perseverance, integrity, and faith that still guide me today. Just as this country continues to grow and refine itself, so too does a family legacy—one built not on perfection, but on hard work, belief, and a deep love for country and home.

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