DAYTON, OH, US — For 250 years, the story of America has been told in song — through moments of hardship and triumph alike. For its summer 2026 edition titled “We Declare: America at 250,” editors of University of Dayton Magazine asked community members for songs that embody the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.
“Music reflects the spirit of each era,” they write. “Amplifying the voices of those often unheard, especially when the promise of freedom has not been equal.”
In addition to the magazine they developed a YouTube playlist. Both provide a glimpse of America through the eyes of young adults at a private, faith-based university.
