Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis on the first meeting of the Miami-Dade We Are America 250 Advisory Committee

As Miami-Dade County begins its work commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis is advancing a community-centered approach to patriotism and civic engagement rooted in neighborhood participation and personal pride in country.

Today also marks the first meeting of the Miami-Dade 250: We Are America Celebration Advisory Committee, which is tasked with guiding the County’s role in the nationwide semiquincentennial observance leading up to 2026. The effort is focused on honoring the principles that built the nation and ensuring those values are passed on to future generations.

As part of this work, Commissioner Milian Orbis is launching a district-based patriotic initiative she believes can serve as a model for broader countywide engagement. The initiative, titled Flags Across Miami-Dade, will begin in District 6 and utilize fundraising support to create a homeowner-focused program allowing residents to apply to receive American flags for display at the front of their homes. The program is designed to encourage visible patriotism at the neighborhood level while removing cost barriers for seniors and working families who wish to participate in the America 250 commemoration.

“America 250 should not live only on a stage or in a speech,” said Commissioner Milian Orbis. “It should live on our streets, on our homes, and in our neighborhoods. Flags Across Miami-Dade is a simple, meaningful way to bring this historic anniversary directly to the community and remind us of what unites us as Americans.”

Commissioner Milian Orbis is advancing the initiative as a best-practice concept for the Miami-Dade 250: We Are America Celebration Advisory Committee to consider for potential countywide adoption as part of its official programming. The proposal aligns with the committee’s mission to promote civic pride, public participation, and education grounded in the nation’s founding principles.

America was founded by men and women who chose freedom and accepted responsibility. They understood that liberty requires courage, faith, and sacrifice. Those same values define Miami-Dade County, a community shaped by families who know firsthand the cost of tyranny and the blessing of freedom.

“No community understands freedom more deeply than Miami-Dade,” Commissioner Milian Orbis added. “My family fled Cuba after losing everything to a communist regime. They came to America seeking faith, opportunity, and the dignity of work. Displaying the American flag is an expression of gratitude for this country and a commitment to the values that built it.”

As a member of the America 250 Advisory Committee, Commissioner Milian Orbis will support a commemoration rooted in history and civic responsibility, with a strong focus on educating young people about citizenship and the meaning of liberty. Miami-Dade’s veterans, first responders, educators, and immigrant families continue to embody the American experiment through their service and sacrifice.

“America 250 is more than a celebration. It is an inheritance,” said Commissioner Milian Orbis. “Each generation receives the gift of liberty and the responsibility to protect it. Miami-Dade stands ready to honor that duty, speak with pride, and ensure America’s story is taught clearly and carried forward with purpose.”

Additional details regarding Flags Across Miami-Dade and its potential expansion will be announced as planning continues.

— Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis
Miami-Dade County, District 6