Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen read her sesquicentennial poem at a state birthday gathering of officials Wednesday at the Capitol.
"Nebraska: A Treasured State," was inspired, she said, by the Capitol art that features agriculture and the idea that the purpose of forming societies is to sow the nobler seeds of living.
Nebraskans weather all the climate can throw at them: hail, heat, drought, tornadoes, wind, floods, blizzards, thunderstorms. All the while, they crave each sunrise, each clean breath and unfettered star gazing.Ìý
"Our time is brief: let us tread lightly, praise the labor of hands, hearts, minds.Ìý
"Together sing the good, sow the seeds for nobler life."
Hansen joined a program that included "The Voice" finalist Hannah Huston, singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful;" a rendition of "Happy Birthday" by the Everett Elementary School chorus; state song "Beautiful Nebraska" by the Waverly Singers Octet; and remarks by Gov. Pete Ricketts, Chief Justice Mike Heavican and the Legislature's speaker, Jim Scheer.Ìý
Audie Taylor of Cozad sits astride Tiny, a palomino quarter horse, carrying the state flag as he and members of the Pony Express Riders wait to deliver a copy of the 150-year-old proclamation of Nebraska Statehood to Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday at the Capitol.
Lyle Gronewold (left) of Gothenburg, president of the Nebraska Division of the National Pony Express Association, hands a copy of the 150-year-old statehood proclamation to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts during a ceremony outside the Capitol on Wednesday.Ìý
The Waverly High School Singers under the direction of Rachel Kornfield perform from the balcony during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Layla Teater, 1, of Omaha finds an empty chair amid festive balloons to take a rest during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.
Thirteen-year-old Zander Farr of Cozad reaches out to get a high-five from Gov. Pete Ricketts before the Pony Express Riders delivered a copy of the 150-year old proclamation of Nebraska statehood to him on Wednesday on the west side of the Capitol.Ìý
Kevin and Abby Webben and their 5-year-old daughter Maisey of Lincoln listen to a monologue by Chief Standing Bear, portrayed by Taylor Keen, from the balcony during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Betty Jean Steinshouer performs a monologue as Willa Cather, our No. 1 notable Nebraskan, before an audience during a statehood celebration in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
United States Postal Service worker Pat Moore carefully voids a commemorative stamp for a patron during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
A commemorative stamp featuring a photo by Nebraska native Michael Forsberg is issued during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
See images from the celebration of Nebraska's 150th birthday on Wednesday.
Statehood Pony Express
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Audie Taylor of Cozad sits astride Tiny, a palomino quarter horse, carrying the state flag as he and members of the Pony Express Riders wait to deliver a copy of the 150-year-old proclamation of Nebraska Statehood to Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday at the Capitol.
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Taylor Keen performs a monologue as Chief Standing Bear before an audience during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Taylor Keen performs a monologue as Chief Standing Bear before an audience during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.
The Pony Express delivered the statehood proclamation at the Nebraska Capitol on Wednesday. Video by DAN STINMAN, Journal Star
Stathood Pony Express
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lyle Gronewold (left) of Gothenburg, president of the Nebraska Division of the National Pony Express Association, hands a copy of the 150-year-old statehood proclamation to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts during a ceremony outside the Capitol on Wednesday.Ìý
Pony Express
Courtesy photo
Gov. Pete Ricketts accepts the statehood proclamation from a Pony Express rider on Wednesday at the Capitol.
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
The Waverly High School Singers under the direction of Rachel Kornfield perform from the balcony during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Layla Teater, 1, of Omaha finds an empty chair amid festive balloons to take a rest during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.
Statehood Pony Express
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Thirteen-year-old Zander Farr of Cozad reaches out to get a high-five from Gov. Pete Ricketts before the Pony Express Riders delivered a copy of the 150-year old proclamation of Nebraska statehood to him on Wednesday on the west side of the Capitol.Ìý
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Kevin and Abby Webben and their 5-year-old daughter Maisey of Lincoln listen to a monologue by Chief Standing Bear, portrayed by Taylor Keen, from the balcony during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Terry Lane performs a monologue as Buffalo Bill Cody before an audience during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Hannah Huston belted out the "Star-Spangled Banner' on Wednesday at the Nebraska Statehood Celebration. Video by DAN STINMAN, Journal Star
Hannah Huston
JoANNE YOUNG, Journal Star
Hannah Huston performs the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Statehood Day celebration at the Capitol Wednesday.
Statehood Day
JoANNE YOUNG, Journal Star
Everett Elementary students sing "Happy Birthday" to Nebraska at the Capitol Statehood Day celebration Wednesday.
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star file photo
Betty Jean Steinshouer performs a monologue as Willa Cather, our No. 1 notable Nebraskan, before an audience during a statehood celebration in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Costumes
JoANNE YOUNG, Journal Star
People in old-time costumes at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Gov. Pete Ricketts and first lady Susanne Shore sign autographs during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Statehood Day
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Betty Jean Steinshouer performs a monologue as Willa Cather before an audience during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda.Ìý
United States Postal Service worker Pat Moore carefully voids a commemorative stamp for a patron during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Stamp
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
A commemorative stamp featuring a photo by Nebraska native Michael Forsberg is issued during a statehood celebration on Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.Ìý
Ricketts held up Nebraska heroes such as George Flippin, the University of Nebraska's first black football player; Chief Standing Bear; teacher Minnie Freeman, who saved her classroom during the blizzard of 1888; Ben Kuroki, born in Gothenburg and the only Japanese American in the U.S. Army Air Force to serve in combat in the Pacific theater of World War II; and Ed Gomez, of Omaha, who received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save four fellow Marines on his machine-gun team.
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Heavican pointed out the special role of Nebraska's judiciary and legal profession to carry out the promise of the state motto "Equality Before the Law."
"From Nebraska's inception our courts were open and accessible," he said. "Today, the first day of March 2017, marks the beginning of expanded media access to all Nebraska's courts."
News cameras will have access inside courtrooms statewide for the first time, he said.Ìý
Scheer recognized Judi M. gaiashkibos, the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs since 1995.
In his remarks, he said Nebraska embraces local politics and places great emphasis on school boards, county assessors and commissioners, mayors, city councils.Ìý
"We value the relationship and access to our public officials. Many of us started down our path as public servants at the local level," he said of senators.Ìý
The unicameral Legislature, he said, was George Norris' way of emphasizing that the people of Nebraska are all of one class.Ìý
"Today our unicameral is arguably the most efficient and transparent legislative branch in existence," Scheer said.Ìý
The goal should be the betterment of the state, he said.
"We all want to ensure that the next 150 years will indeed be better than the past, and I am confident to say to you that it will be."