Laurens County Council has adopted an official proclamation of June 28 as Carolina Day in Laurens County, an event that connects with the July 4th 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The proclamation invites everyone to a 3 p.m. worship service on June 28 at First Baptist Church in Laurens, then to the Historic Courthouse Square for a program and then to the official opening of a permanent exhibit about America’ struggle to be independent of the British crown at the Laurens County Museum.
The Monday night action was taken in the council’s first meeting back in the Historic Courthouse after 3 years of renovations.
“Thank you for the work restoring this courthouse. It is a landmark that was deteriorating,” said former County Administrator Ernie Segars, who made a brief presentation on behalf of the Laurens County 250 Committee.
Referring to the nation’s 250th birthday and to the June 9 primary day election in South Carolina, Council Chairman Jeff Carroll said, “It’s a heavy lift deciding to represent a community. It will be hard going forward on some decisions, and some decisions are really easy. It’s something I take pride in, and I thank you all for being here tonight and supporting your community, for having an opinion, and for making sure that Laurens County is going forward. You know, 250 years is kind of an inflection point for any nation. If you will look at a democratic nation, that’s the point at which things really get a little itchy, if you will, so it’s going to be on us, as citizens, to make sure we continue to do that. I appreciate you all, for what you do.”
The County’s Carolina Day proclamation says:
“A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY COUNTY OF LAURENS
‘CAROLINA DAY’ WITHIN LAURENS COUNTY
WHEREAS, Historic preservation is an effective tool for fostering local pride and the importance to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the aspects of the heritage that has shaped us, and;
WHEREAS, July 4, 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, considered as the founding birthday of the United States of America, and;
WHEREAS, in 2016 the President of the United States declared that July 4, 2026, is to be a nationwide historic occasion formed by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. Where within each state and each county a 250 Commission is to be established to plan for and commemorate our nation’s 250th Anniversary, and;
WHEREAS, in 2018 South Carolina Governor McMaster and the General Assembly chartered the formation of a State 250 Commission, and;
WHEREAS, in 2021 the Laurens County Council approved for the formation of a Laurens County 250 Committee to plan for and honor collectively the celebration of our Nation’s 250th Anniversary by commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the United States and South Carolina’s integral role in that event, and;
WHEREAS, for 250 years, faithful leaders and servicemembers have sacrificed to defend these rights and to ensure that ‘We, the people’, could live in peace and freedom. America today remains blessed among nations in its freedoms and prosperity; and,
WHEREAS, ‘Carolina Day’ will be part of a state-wide celebration commemorating the Patriot defeat of a British fleet in the Charleston harbor on June 28, 1776, and as one of the first major American victories in the Revolutionary War. ‘Carolina Day’ marks the historic defense of Charleston led by Colonel William Moultrie in a crudely constructed fort made of palmetto logs on Sullivan's Island. Through the heroics of Colonel Moultrie and his troops, the patriots were able to drive back a naval attack by the British military.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Laurens County Council hereby officially commemorates the 250th Anniversary of the establishment of the United States as an independent nation along with the goals, objectives and mission of the Laurens County 250 Committee and the Revolutionary Celebration with declaring Sunday, June 28, 2026, as ‘Carolina Day’ in Laurens County; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we encourage all citizens, communities, educational institutions, civic organizations, and businesses within Laurens County to participate in commemorative events and activities that reflect on our history, celebrate our achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of liberty, equality and self-government.”
Segars gave a brief explanation of the Laurens County 250 Committee’s work planning for this special observance (he also submitted a detail, 3-page document to each council member).
He said that with the 2021 designation by County Council of the committee as the observance’s official planning body, “That enabled us to apply for grants through the State Commission, and you, the council, have been generous with money over the years. Over the past 5 years, what we have done has been pretty considerable. We have established biking and driving trails in the county to 14 sites. We have put kiosks in key locations with maps and narratives that detail that spot’s role in the Revolutionary. The kiosk in Downtown Clinton will be dedicated soon.
“We have worked in close concert with the Laurens County Museum. That will be the center of what we will do, and have done, to promote the Revolution. I am 75 years old, and I had no idea of the breath and depth of the Revolution that was in Laurens County, and the people who played a very prominent role.”
Segars said in addition to worship and music at First Baptist Church Laurens, there will be a Daughters of the American Revolution marker unveiling at the Historic Courthouse Square (4 p.m. program) and the unveiling of the Museum’s exhibit that will address all segments of the community during the birth of the nation (5 p.m. program). The local planning commission was able to secure more than $100,000 for his permanent exhibit, he said. “People will come from all over to see it,” Segars said.
“(Local Historian) Durant Ashmore’s lectures have had people from other states come here. We appreciate the support of Laurens County, the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission, and others that has enabled us to do this. And the Chamber (Laurens County Chamber of Commerce), they have provided the physical location for our monthly meetings. With this Courthouse, the Museum, the work that Laurens is doing downtown, great things are in store for this community.”
Segars said the Laurens County 250 Committee expects to develop 3 Revolutionary War sites that will continue to host visitors long after the Revolution anniversary ends. These are Hayes Station, Hammonds Store, and Rosemont, on Lake Greenwood, the plantation home of Ann Pamela Cunningham, who organized the saving of George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, and was a historic preservation pioneer for the United States.
Laurens County Council agendas, packets and minutes: https://www.laurenscountysc.gov/departments/county_council/agendas_minutes/index.php
View this meeting: https://www.youtube.com/@laurenscountygovlaurens9319/streams
