Pence Celebrates Bicentennial Statehood Day

Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence celebrated Indiana’s 200th birthday at the annual Statehood Day event at the Statehouse.

The 2016 Statehood Day celebration looked a lot like those in year’s past: there was the choir singing “Back Home Again in Indiana,” an actor playing President Benjamin Harrison, and a student reading her winning submission from the annual essay contest. This time, it was Jillian Stemler of New Albany, for her entry “Bicentennial Travels.”

“It was fun to celebrate Indiana’s birthday by traveling. In the future, there might be a new state park to explore or maybe Indiana’s first female governor – me,” Stemler read.

This year’s celebration, the Bicentennial, was different, too. For one thing, the governor presiding over it, Mike Pence, is also the Vice President-elect.

“But let me say, my favorite title will always be husband, father and Hoosier – and that will never change,” Pence said.

And addressing the crowd of students from around the state, Pence implored them to study hard and reach for their dreams, promising them Indiana’s next milestone will belong to them.