I’m sure when my grandfather was creating decorations for the Bicentennial in 1976, he never imagined that fifty years later his granddaughter would be putting them back on display. Yet here we are, preparing to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, and the life-size colonial soldiers he made for his yard will be standing proudly in mine.
My grandfather, Nicholas Pruiksma—known to me simply as Pop Pop—was a patriot through and through. He served in the Army in the years following World War II, closely followed the Apollo missions, and even knew a few astronauts personally. Growing up, I remember that no matter what time of year I visited my grandparents’ home in New Jersey, there was always some reminder of his love for America. So when the Bicentennial arrived in 1976, Pop Pop embraced the celebration wholeheartedly.
A talented artist and craftsman, he decided to create four life-size colonial soldiers for his Fourth of July display. Today, creating something like that might involve a computer, projector or laser cutter. Pop Pop had none of those tools. Instead, he drew a grid on a large piece of paper, sketched out the soldier, and then repeated the process on wood, matching each grid square to replicate the image. The finished figures became the centerpiece of his Bicentennial celebration.
Half a century later, those same soldiers remain. Since Pop Pop’s passing in 2005, they have traveled from Totowa, New Jersey, to Northern Kentucky, where they have occasionally appeared in my parents’ yard. This year, however, they will take center stage once again as part of my own Fourth of July display.
Looking back, I realize I inherited more than the soldiers themselves. I inherited some of Pop Pop’s creativity and his love of history. As a public historian, I have built a career around preserving the past and finding engaging ways to share it with others through exhibits, displays and historical interpretation. Even at home, I enjoy creating large-scale decorations of my own. For example, one Halloween I made life-size wood cutouts of the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. So, in many ways, the same creative spirit that inspired Pop Pop’s Bicentennial project continues today.
What began as a decoration for a national celebration has become something more: a family tradition and a tangible connection between generations. In 1976, my grandfather was celebrating America’s 200th birthday. In 2026, I have the privilege of celebrating its 250th while honoring the man who first inspired my appreciation for history, creativity and patriotism.
I think Pop Pop would be delighted to know that the soldiers he created fifty years ago are still standing. More importantly, I think he would be proud to know that the values and interests that inspired him continue to live on in the generations that followed.
