TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University took part in Two Lights for Tomorrow as part of the America 250 Initiative.

The event celebrates the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride. Organizations and people from across the nation put up two lights to celebrate on of the most important moments in United States history.

“The colonists at the time, they came together in an unified front to take a stand,” said Jeffrey Scott, a professor in the College of Education. “Basically, what it means for us today is take a stand against bad things, take a stand against division.”

Despite the 250 years that separate today’s world from Revere’s ride, and in a time where division can be frequently found among the nation, many historians hope something as simple as two lanterns can shine an unifying light in the darkness.

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“We start to get a sense of ‘hey, we’re bigger than the moment right now, we’re more than that,'” Scott said. “We’re connected to people that came way before us. What we do today is just as important because it continues building those threads that hold us together.”

America 250, the organization that led Two Lights for Tomorrow, will have multiple events that will happen across the nation leading to the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 4th, 2026.