“We do things a bit differently here in good ole North Carolina… why? Because we’re the state with two dates on our flag!” -Len Elder, Superior School of Real
The state with two dates on their flag
“We do things a bit differently here in good ole North Carolina… why? Because we’re the state with two dates on our flag!” -Len Elder, Superior School of Real Estate.
Of all of the 13 Colonies of the United States who celebrate July 4th as the day we gained our independence from Great Britain, North Carolina celebrates, and waves, two different dates. The first date is May 20th, 1775, which commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, and the second date, April 12th, 1776 is the day North Carolina succeeded from the Union during the Halifax Resolves. The Declaration of Mecklenburg claims to be the first declaration of independence during the American Revolution made by any of the colonies. This declaration as made by a committee of Charlotte citizens after the battle of Lexington, preceding the US Declaration by over a year. Despite the history written about it, there is no evidence of its existence found anywhere and professional historians often claim its inaccuracy. Either way, the notorious date has made its way to a permanent spot on the dual-dated flag. Almost a year later, the Halifax assembly sent copies of the April 12th, 1776 resolves to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia where they became an important factor in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence only a few months later. These reserves were important because they were the first official documents taking action and pushing for Independence from Great Britain. Three delegates from North Carolina had the honor of signing the Declaration of Independence on that great day July 4th, 1776: Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn. Safe to say, maybe we wouldn’t be the free nation we are today if North Carolina hadn’t had a say in the country’s well-being.
Hey There! My name is Spenser Pollard, I was born in Charlotte, NC and grew up in Fort Mill, SC, went to college at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and happy to be back for much milder winters. I'm a bi....