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Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn · July 1–4, 2026

The Flag’s final journey,
in the city
that made America.

A single American Flag is completing a year-long journey across the world and all fifty states. Its final full chapter unfolds over thirteen gatherings in the Pittsburgh region, before the American Legion carries it to Washington, D.C. for the nation’s 250th.

Explore the route Follow the Flag
An American Flag flies on a Pittsburgh bridge at dusk, the lit downtown skyline behind it.

The bigger picture

One journey, four chapters

The Pittsburgh sojourn sits within a larger story. Each chapter nests inside the last, from an entire nation’s milestone down to a single Flag in one city.

National commemoration America’s 250th 250 years of independence, marked July 4, 2026.
A National Flag Foundation initiative Light to Unite Light your space red, white, and blue. Fly the Flag.
A National Flag Foundation initiative Sojourn250 One Flag, a year-long journey across 10 countries and all 50 states.
You are here

The Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn

The final full chapter. Thirteen gatherings across the Pittsburgh region, July 1–4, before the American Legion Riders carry the Flag to Washington, D.C.

1 Flag
26 Military cemeteries
10 Countries
50 States & territories
13 Pittsburgh gatherings

Sojourn250 · Follow the Flag

Where the Flag has traveled

One Flag, a year-long journey across 10 countries and all 50 states. Follow it stop by stop, all the way to its final chapter in Pittsburgh and on to the nation’s Capitol.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania You are here

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

July 1–4, 2026

The final full chapter, with thirteen gatherings across the region.

40.44°N, 79.99°W

Tap the arrows or swipe to follow the journey.

Why Pittsburgh

Our story is America’s story

Pittsburgh is a place where revolutions begin. The Sojourn Flag returns to honor the people and places that made America, and to recommit to the ideals the Flag represents.

Where revolutions begin

The opening shots of the French & Indian War in today’s Laurel Highlands ignited the chain of events that led to the American Revolution, with a young George Washington at the center.

Forging a nation

The Second Industrial Revolution took hold here: iron and steel that bridged a continent and raised skylines nationwide, drawing workers from across Europe and the Deep South to build America.

The innovation revolution

From the Bessemer converter of the 1870s to the birth of robotics and organ transplantation a century later, and on to today’s leadership in AI, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences.

“The indispensable American city.”
David McCullough, on Pittsburgh, where the full American story can be told in one place

The route

Thirteen stops, four days

From the Flag’s arrival at the 911th Airlift Wing to its handoff on Grant Street, each gathering honors a thread of the American story. Swipe through the full journey.

  1. Stewardship & Honor, 911th Airlift Wing, Coraopolis. Wednesday, July 1, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET. 01 / 13 Wed · Jul 1
    Press & Invitation Arrival & Stewardship

    Stewardship & Honor

    911th Airlift Wing

    Coraopolis1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

    The Flag arrives in the region, a moment of service, sacrifice, and shared care, continuity, and respect.

    Get directions
  2. The People Who Make America, United Steelworkers Headquarters, Downtown Pittsburgh. Wednesday, July 1, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET. 02 / 13 Wed · Jul 1
    Open to the Public Making America

    The People Who Make America

    United Steelworkers Headquarters

    Downtown Pittsburgh3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

    The City of Pittsburgh welcome, at a symbolic location honoring the workers who built this country.

    Get directions
  3. America Begins Here, Fort Ligonier, Westmoreland County. Thursday, July 2, 9:00 – 10:30 AM ET. 03 / 13 Thu · Jul 2
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    America Begins Here

    Fort Ligonier

    Westmoreland County9:00 – 10:30 AM ET

    The opening shots of the French & Indian War in the Laurel Highlands, and the young George Washington who would come to lead a nation.

    Get directions
  4. Confluence, Conflict, Renewal, Fort Pitt · Point State Park, Downtown Pittsburgh. Thursday, July 2, 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET. 04 / 13 Thu · Jul 2
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    Confluence, Conflict, Renewal

    Fort Pitt · Point State Park

    Downtown Pittsburgh12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

    Following Washington’s footsteps to the crossroads of empire, conflict, and nation-building.

    Get directions
  5. Memory in Motion, North Shore Memorial Walk, North Shore. Thursday, July 2, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET. 05 / 13 Thu · Jul 2
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    Memory in Motion

    North Shore Memorial Walk

    North Shore1:30 – 3:00 PM ET

    A walk from the Fred Rogers statue past the North Shore memorials, ending in a Flag raising just beyond PNC Park.

    Get directions
  6. In Every Generation, Soldiers & Sailors Hall · PSO Americana Concert, Oakland. Thursday, July 2, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET. 06 / 13 Thu · Jul 2
    Open to the Public Making America

    In Every Generation

    Soldiers & Sailors Hall · PSO Americana Concert

    Oakland6:00 – 7:30 PM ET

    A Flag raising on Fifth Avenue and presentation of the colors, uniting military honor and the arts in one civic ritual.

    Get directions
  7. Reflection & Resolve, Mount Washington Sunset Honor Guard, Mount Washington. Thursday, July 2, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET. 07 / 13 Thu · Jul 2
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    Reflection & Resolve

    Mount Washington Sunset Honor Guard

    Mount Washington8:00 – 9:00 PM ET

    A contemplative, iconic moment overlooking the city, Pittsburgh as a symbol of the American spirit.

    Get directions
  8. In Sacred Trust, National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Washington County. Friday, July 3, 8:00 – 9:00 AM ET. 08 / 13 Fri · Jul 3
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    In Sacred Trust

    National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

    Washington County8:00 – 9:00 AM ET

    A solemn recognition of those whose sacrifice made our national ideals possible.

    Get directions
  9. Flags United, Flag Plaza · with Scouting America, Uptown Pittsburgh. Friday, July 3, 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET. 09 / 13 Fri · Jul 3
    Open to the Public Arrival & Stewardship

    Flags United

    Flag Plaza · with Scouting America

    Uptown Pittsburgh10:00 – 11:00 AM ET

    The Sojourn Flag and Commonwealth Flags fly together over the staging area for the trek to Washington, hosted by Scouting America.

    Get directions
  10. Still We Strive, Freedom Corner, Hill District. Friday, July 3, 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET. 10 / 13 Fri · Jul 3
    Open to the Public Making America

    Still We Strive

    Freedom Corner

    Hill District12:00 – 1:30 PM ET

    Pittsburgh’s role in the unfinished work of equal justice and democracy.

    Get directions
  11. Reinventing the Promise, Bakery Square · The Innovation Revolution, East Liberty. Friday, July 3, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET. 11 / 13 Fri · Jul 3
    Open to the Public Forging the Future

    Reinventing the Promise

    Bakery Square · The Innovation Revolution

    East Liberty4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

    A celebration of Pittsburgh’s leadership in the emerging revolutions, life sciences, AI, and robotics.

    Get directions
  12. Forged in Fire, Carrie Blast Furnaces, Rankin / Swissvale. Friday, July 3, 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET. 12 / 13 Fri · Jul 3
    Open to the Public Making America

    Forged in Fire

    Carrie Blast Furnaces

    Rankin / Swissvale6:00 – 8:00 PM ET

    A community picnic honoring the workers, ingenuity, and grit that powered America, and the reinvention that follows still.

    Get directions
  13. Carrying the Spirit Forward, Grant Street · American Legion Convoy, Downtown → Washington, D.C.. Saturday, July 4, 5:45 – 6:30 AM ET. 13 / 13 Sat · Jul 4
    Press & Invitation To the National Stage

    Carrying the Spirit Forward

    Grant Street · American Legion Convoy

    Downtown → Washington, D.C.5:45 – 6:30 AM ET

    The formal handoff from Pittsburgh’s stewardship to the national stage, Allegheny County’s sheriff last in line as the Legion Riders depart for the U.S. Capitol.

    Get directions

Most gatherings are free and open to the public; a few are reserved for press. Times and access are being finalized, so check back or watch the press kit for the latest.

A National Flag Foundation initiative

Light to Unite

On the Fourth of July, the nation lights as one. Cities, landmarks, and households across America are turning red, white, and blue, and flying the American Flag, to mark 250 years of independence.

Light your building, your bridge, your front porch. Fly the Flag on July 4, 2026.

Presented by Navy Federal Credit Union

Join Light to Unite

Press & media

Cover the sojourn

Everything you need to tell the story: high-resolution imagery, the full itinerary, logos, and a fact sheet. Free for editorial use with credit to the National Flag Foundation.

Download press kit View fact sheet

Media contact

Alicia MunzPhelps, National Flag Foundation
amunzphelps@nationalflagfoundation.org

Image credit line: Courtesy of the National Flag Foundation.

  • 13 event cards High-resolution images for every stop on the route
  • NFF logos Full-color and reversed marks, transparent PNG
  • Fact sheet Who, what, when, where, and the story behind it
  • Route overview The full four-day itinerary, ready to publish
  • Sojourn film Coming soon, added to this kit on release