BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Members of the Raleigh County Commission gathered outside the commission offices on Wednesday for a ceremony at which members were presented with a ceremonial Battle of Point Pleasant lantern in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
The event came as part of an effort by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) to recognize key events in American history which contributed to what would ultimately become the independence of the United States of America.
In attendance for the event alongside Raleigh County Commission members was Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, and Chair of the West Virginia Quincentennial Commission, Randall Reid-Smith.
“We are here to celebrate what we are calling the Colonial Trail of Colonel Lewis,” said Reid-Smith. “We have a ceremonial lantern that we’re putting in all the counties along the way.”
The visit came directly on the heels of similar ceremonies held in Greenbrier County and Summers County, and would be followed by ceremonies in Fayette County, Kanawha County, Putnam County, and Mason County.
During the ceremony, the history West Virginia was discussed, with particular emphasis placed upon the upcoming anniversary of what could be considered either the final battle of the colonial period or the first battle of the American Revolution, according to one speaker. The battle was fought in Lewisburg, West Virginia and will have occurred 250 years ago Thursday.
The proceedings saw delivery by Reid-Smith of a proclamation from Govenor Jim Justice proclaiming October 9, 2024, to be Colonial Trail Day in West Virginia in celebration of Colonel Andrew Lewis’ campaign from Lewisburg, West Virginia to Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
“October 10th, 2024, marks the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s war… Recognizing the importance of that conflict is vital to the national Semi-quincentennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence… The Virginia militia, under the command of Colonel Andrew Lewis, traversed these counties during Lord Dunmore’s war,” read the proclamation. “Many people from Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Raleigh, and Summers Counties are direct descendants of the early Americans who fought in both Lord Dunmore’s War and the American Revolution.”
To learn more about the Battle of Point Pleasant and other historically significant events in the history of the Mountain State, visit the WV Culture website.
