RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly’s America 250 Committee convened Aug. 22 for its second official session to discuss plans for commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Presenting at the meeting were Dean Eatmon, Randal Jones and Civil Rights icon Clarence Henderson. The committee’s co-chairs, Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) and Sen. Ted Alexander (R-Cleveland), presided over the meeting.
Eatmon is the assistant director of government affairs for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) and a former member of the Historical Halifax Restoration Association Board of Directors.
Jones is the author of “In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone” and “Before They Were Heroes at Kings Mountain.” He is also a member of the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau of the North Carolina Humanities Council and a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild.
Henderson is known for his role in the Civil Rights movement as a participant in the 1960 Woolsworth’s diner sit-ins in Greensboro. He is also the former chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of North Carolina.
Sarah Koontz, director of the Division of Archives and Records, outlined the DNCR’s plan to foster statewide commemorative planning across all 100 counties.
“We really would like it to be multiyear because the timeline of the revolution goes in North Carolina all throughout the Revolutionary War period,” said Koontz. “And we really are wanting it to be statewide.”
DNCR’s initiatives include quarterly stakeholder meetings, online resources and support for local committees. Koontz highlighted several key spending items that included $2.1 million for a local grants program, funding for four time-limited temporary positions for two years, as well as funding for one research historian position with travel support.
Additionally, DNCR has secured several grants from the National Park Service and other federal entities for various preservation and educational projects.
Henderson’s presentation to the committee highlighted the importance of peaceful protest and the ongoing struggle for equality.
“We as human beings are here to not become fearful but to take heart. How else was this country built?” Henderson said of his participation in the Greensboro sit-ins.
Jones presented on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the significance of the Battle of Kings Mountain in the American Revolution.
“North Carolina,” Jones said, “has a great story to tell. … People don’t want to be informed. They want to be entertained.”
Charlotte Museum of History’s Jason Luker shared plans for local commemorations in Mecklenburg County, such as the restoration of the Rock House, exhibits on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and a large-scale interactive exhibit on the American Revolution.
The committee discussed various ideas for engaging the public, including the creation of a passport program for historical sites, holding committee meetings at historically significant locations, developing a timeline of important anniversaries and collaborating with other states on regional initiatives.
During discussion, Alexander mentioned ongoing efforts to secure permanent staff, including an executive director, to assist with day-to-day activities and planning. The committee is also working on outreach to publications throughout the state to raise awareness of the upcoming semiquincentennial.
Committee members emphasized the importance of unifying the state and country through these commemorative efforts, recognizing the shared heritage of all Americans.
The next meeting of the America 250 Committee is scheduled for Sept. 19, and the committee plans to focus on discussing and developing concrete plans based on the ideas and presentations from the previous session.
