To the People of 2276: A Message of Hope from the CNMI
This Independence Day, I had the profound honor of placing a letter into the United States Congress Semiquincentennial Time Capsule, to be opened on July 4, 2276, during our nation’s 500th anniversary. As I wrote to future generations, I found myself reflecting on the people and islands we are privileged to call home. I wanted those who come after us to know that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2026 was a place deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of our Chamorro and Refaluwasch ancestors, while also being enriched by families from across the Pacific, Asia, the continental United States, and many other parts of the world who together helped build our vibrant and diverse community. My hope is that 250 years from now, our descendants will still gather with family, honor their elders, cherish their cultures and languages, and remain connected to these beautiful islands. Above all, I wanted future Americans to know that, though separated by vast oceans, the people of the CNMI stood proudly as part of the American story, guided by faith, strengthened by resilience, and united by an enduring belief in a better tomorrow.