Two Lights – Virginia American Revolution 250 Commemoration

Two Lights For Tomorrow

A Nationwide Call to Action

April 11 – 22, 2025 in Virginia
April 18, 2025 across the nation

Two Lights for Tomorrow is a nationwide initiative to commence the celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The famous ride of Paul Revere occurred overnight on April 18 – 19, 1775. Two Lights for Tomorrow originated out of multi-state collaboration at A Common Cause to All in Williamsburg and uses the imagery of that shining light 250 years ago as a uniting call to action today for our fellow citizens, no matter where they are, to commemorate and remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow.

At its heart it is a call across the country, in private homes, local communities, and statehouses alike, for two lights to be displayed to remind us all of the importance to come together to form a more perfect union.

Where the Lights Have Shined!

Did you participate? Please share your lights with us!

In Virginia, we lit our lanterns from April 11^th to April 22^nd, the 250^th anniversary of the Gunpowder Incident in Williamsburg. We invite everyone across the state and across the nation to join us in this nationally unifying commemoration. Some states displayed their lights on the anniversary itself on April 18^th, others displayed their lights the entire month of April!

Day of Service

In some states, a day of service will follow the lantern lightings as a reminder that the idea of serving one another has been part of our national identity since that very first day 250 years ago.

Check with your state commission to see if they’re planning for that part or if they know of any volunteer projects ranging from park and cemetery clean-ups (especially with the close proximity to Earth Day) to community builds, food drives, and card writing to residents of care facilities, etc. The possibilities for service can be tailored to the needs of our citizens and in partnership with service organizations.

Involve Your Community

From two spotlights at a state capitol building beaming in the darkness to smaller displays at municipal buildings, and lights in individual homes, every citizen can participate. There isn’t a specific kind of light, duration of display, or location because the important part is just the willingness to participate!

Some governor’s offices are issuing executive orders to encourage government department buildings, municipalities, and every citizen to participate. Educational materials have been prepared by many states to engage students of all levels.

We encourage participation at as many locations as possible – community centers, municipal and county administrative buildings, and private residences.

Tool Kit

These are some toolkit assets that may help you develop your own plan which includes an event logo, signage templates, proclamation templates, and more!