To commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the August 2, 1776 formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, a group of citizens gathered for a special ceremony the afternoon of Sunday, August 2 in the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley. The event also paid tribute to South Carolina’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Arthur Middleton.

The program began with the presentation of the colors by the Boy Scouts of Troop 51 in Pickens and the Scouts leading in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the South Carolina flag.

Following the invocation given by Bud Starnes, President of the General Andrew Pickens Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), speakers included Judge Perry Gravely (leader of the Troop 51 Boy Scouts), Carolyn Nations (Pickens County America 250 Committee Chair), Carolyn Maddox (Pickens County America 250 Committee member), Lana Beckley (Pickens County America 250 member), and Joyce Hansel (Regent of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Pickens County America 250 Committee member).

Portraying South Carolina’s four Declaration of Independence signers were Dan DeWitt (portraying Edward Rutledge), Judge Perry Gravely (portraying Thomas Heyward, Jr.), Bud Starnes (portraying Thomas Lynch, Jr.), and Pickens County Historical Society Senior Vice President Wayne Kelley (portraying Arthur Middleton).

Thirteen children and adults each chose a star representing one of the 13 original colonies and placed it upon a small tree representing a Liberty Tree, and then each rang a bell.

To conclude the ceremony, the benediction was given by Bud Starnes, President of the General Andrew Pickens Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

To listen to audio of ‘The Day They Signed for Liberty’ event, click on the play button on the audio player below.

Also, view 26 photos by The Pickens County Chronicle of the event.