Next month will mark the Declaration of Independence’s 250th birthday, and Lee County’s efforts to commemorate the occasion have been taking shape behind the scenes for several months now.
A volunteer committee formed by the Lee County Board of Commissioners is coordinating the effort, pulling together local governments, civic groups and cultural organizations under a single “America 250” banner. The goal is less about a single event and more about a yearlong series of programs tied to history, education and community celebration.
The committee includes Lee County Commissioner Kirk D. Smith, Sanford Mayor Rebecca Salmon, Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews, Marsha Hanna, Elayne Monjar, Lee County Attorney Whitney Parrish, Bianka Stumpf, Kathleen Munn, Lee County Libraries employees Beth List and Hunter Randolph, Stacy Nooning, Sally Porter, Broadway Town Board member and Visit Sanford Director Wendy Bryan, and school board member Eric Davidson.
The key events, naturally, will come on Independence Day.
In Broadway, the Veterans Council and U.S. Marine Corps League will host a July 4 ceremony at the North Carolina Veterans Memorial. The program, which begins at 10 a.m., is expected to include a color guard, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, musical performances and a patriotic quilt presentation to a local veteran. The town is also planning a golf cart parade as part of the morning’s events.
Attention shifts to Sanford later in the day, when the city’s “Red, White, and Blue Bash” is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park. The event will feature live music, food trucks and fireworks, continuing a format that has drawn large crowds in recent years.
Beyond July 4, the committee’s calendar stretches into the fall.
One of the larger projects is the “Beyond the Liberty Tree” initiative, which will culminate with a ceremonial tree planting at the Lee County Library at 10 a.m. on Sept. 17, Constitution Day. The project is part of a broader effort to plant 100 trees in Western North Carolina as part of hurricane recovery efforts, along with a commemorative plaque marking the anniversary.
Local history and education efforts will also play a major role. Lee County Libraries are planning a series of programs throughout the year, including monthly history talks, a traveling civil rights exhibit and hands-on activities tied to the Revolutionary era. Schools and community groups are expected to tie into those efforts with field trips and student programming. For more information about these events, visit library.leecountync.gov.
Downtown Sanford Inc. is working on a self-guided historical walking tour with permanent signage, while also exploring interactive elements like a scavenger hunt tied to the anniversary. The Lee County Agricultural Fair will adopt a “From Fields to Freedom” theme, highlighting the county’s agricultural history alongside the national milestone.
There will also be arts programming marking the anniversary. Temple Theatre will stage “1776: An American Musical” in September, and Central Carolina Community College is planning a lecture and film series focused on early American history. Other organizations, including the Railroad House Historical Association and local arts groups, are expected to layer in exhibits and events throughout the year. These events and more will be included in The Rant Monthly’s upcoming event calendars.
— by Gordon Anderson