Historical interpreters joined community leaders, representatives and residents in kicking off the 250th anniversary celebration Thursday, Dec. 28, in the historic Loudoun County Courthouse. The year-long celebration will include events, activities and historical items from every county department and will culminate in a week-long celebration May 14-19.
"[These things] are representative of all the history and ethnic heritage of Loudoun County," Peter Dunning, director of First Night Leesburg, said.
Marybeth Mohr, chair of the anniversary committee, said she and the committee hope to build awareness of the anniversary with many of the activities that will be taking place during the year.
"We are developing our legacy," she said.
AS A PART of that legacy, the anniversary committee will sponsor the Legacy Journal. The journal will contain 250-word entries from people throughout the county about what Loudoun means to them. The entries will describe individual memories as well as discussion about its place in the country's history.
"It will get to the meat of why we are here today," Mohr said.
Members of the community will also be invited to sign the Legacy Roster, which will include photos and signatures of any 2007 Loudoun residents.
"So we have a hard copy commemorating everyone who was here," Mohr said.
MOHR ANNOUNCED that all mail that goes through the Dulles Mail Facility for one quarter of the year will bear the county's anniversary logo.
"So write a lot of letters," she said.
In addition, the Treasurer's Office will be using the 250th anniversary logo on all 2006-2007 car decals. The Clerk of the Circuit Court will be showcasing historical documents in the county's courthouse; the County Administrator's Office will be burying a time capsule and will have 250th anniversary items on sale in the county store.
Mohr also said there will be a focus on education, to bring the history of the county to life for residents and their children, through historical interpreters at the Loudoun Museum, who will be available for school functions and special events.
The county will also hold a historic scavenger hunt in the Mosby Heritage Area.
"It will be a family-oriented activity [for people] to find history throughout Loudoun," she said.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE will publish a yearbook of all of the county's 75 sheriffs and will conduct an archeological dig at the site of the county's first jail. The office will also uncover a time capsule that was buried at the site of the current jail. The Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management will chronicle the history of all 17 volunteer fire departments in the county.
The major community celebration will be held May 19, which will include an East Meets West Walk on the W&OD Trail. Residents from the west side of the county and from the east side of the county will begin to walk from specific locations. The groups will meet in the middle of the county at the Douglass Community Center in Leesburg. The community celebration will also include historic bus tours throughout the county.
DURING THE kickoff event, local leaders were invited to share what Loudoun meant to them and why they believed the county's history was so important.
"The shapers of our community have lived and worked here," Board of Supervisors' Chairman Scott K. York (I-At large) said. "Blood, sweat and tears have been shed by many. I am very proud to be part of a community that is so diverse and rich in our country's history."
Sen. Mark Herring (D-33) reminded the audience of the important role Loudoun played throughout the nation's history, including being home to presidents, acting as the "Bread Basket of the Revolution" with its corn and wheat production and hosting many moments of the Civil War. Herring also pointed out that modern Loudoun is the "Internet capital of the world" and home to the most advanced biomedical research facility.
"[Loudoun] is a case study about whether an agricultural community can evolve in the face of rapid urban and suburban development," Herring said. "The celebration of the 250th anniversary gives the opportunity to focus on these great [things] Loudoun gave Virginia and the country."
Randy Kelley, chief executive officer for Inova Loudoun Hospital, announced that the hospital would be donating $20,000 to help fund the anniversary events, something Mohr said is vital to the continued success of the anniversary celebration.
"A lot of exciting things are happening and we are delighted to be a part of that," Kelley said.