America 250: How an ordinary tree became a symbol of revolution

America 250: How an ordinary tree became a symbol of revolution

As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, the Gregory Times-Advocate is featuring a column periodically to recount key events and people that led to our country’s independence. In the last installment of America 250 (March 25, 2026), we learned about the Sons of Liberty and the role they played in, often unwittingly, planting the seeds of an independence that few were ready to consider at the time.