By Matt de Simone
Botetourt County is invited to help commemorate Virginia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence and the establishment of the Fincastle Resolutions at the O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum in Roanoke on January 18.
This event is put together by the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), an organization designed to educate Virginians, including students, about history, founding ideals and system of government; engage every community and all regions in events that tell a complete story; and inspire Virginians to commit to American citizenship.
“A Salute to Southwest Virginia” will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a parade; remarks by VA250 National Honorary Chair Carly Fiorina; and a variety of exhibits and activities, including the launch of the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience.
“It is so important to have an appreciation for the sacrifices and challenges that our ancestors faced when they came to this country and helped to establish it as a nation,” Botetourt County DAR Chapter Regent Betty Holt said when asked about the event. “We look forward to the activities that are being planned in Roanoke to celebrate the Resolutions which were written in Fincastle County in January 1775. We also are hoping to celebrate the Botetourt County Resolutions locally in March 2025.”
On January 20, 1775, 15 Virginia frontiersmen gathered in present-day Wythe County to endorse a bold declaration supporting the Continental Congress and initiating a boycott of British trade. These courageous individuals, known as the Fincastle Resolutions signatories, were the first Americans to openly defy British tyranny.
The Fincastle Resolutions, established on February 10, 1775, marked the first time Americans declared that independence was a cause for which they were willing to give their lives, a sentiment famously echoed two months later by Patrick Henry when he addressed the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond on March 23, 1775.
According to Encyclopedia Virginia, the congress had met the previous autumn while several members of the county committee were fighting in Dunmore’s War, a conflict between Virginia militia, Fourth Earl of Dunmore and Virginia’s last Royal Governor, and a confederation led by the Shawnee and Mingo tribes with representation from other Ohio County tribes.
The Fincastle Resolutions expressed support for the Continental Congress’s Association and named a committee to enforce a boycott of British trade. Unlike other resolves passed by counties across Virginia in 1774, the Fincastle Resolutions also focused on conflicts with Native tribes.
Their actions inspired Patrick Henry’s iconic “Liberty or Death” speech and ultimately fueled the American Revolution. By the end of 1775, the Royal Governor had fled Virginia, and the following year, the 13 colonies declared independence. Virginia played a crucial role in the formation of the United States of America, and the legacy of the Fincastle Resolutions continues to inspire generations.
“Virginia’s history is America’s story,” VA250 Executive Director Cheryl Wilson said in a recent interview. “One of the really great things about marking each of these VA250 events is that we can really start to understand and identify with how it all happened… It’s really quite powerful.”
This commemorative event marks the first major VA250 celebration in the state for 2025 that allows attendees the chance to better connect with the history of Virginia. After this event, VA250 will hold other events throughout the year which include “Patrick Henry’s Ride for Liberty” in Scotchtown on March 15, the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s Virginia Campaign in York County from June 2 through June 8, an Independence Day bell ringing ceremony in Isle of Wright County, and much more.
“I think we connect best with history when we connect through the personal stories,” Wilson continued. “When we understand the motivations and when we can think about the person and what formed them, it’s just like our own families… The DARs and SARs do such a great job of helping to bring those people to the forefront.”
In addition to the commemorative ceremony, VA250 will have a Mobile Museum Experience on hand providing a hands-on, interactive experience. The quad-expandable trailer will make its rounds this year during the numerous VA250 celebrations statewide. The Fincastle Resolutions 250th event will be the debut of this mobile museum. To learn more and fill out an application to bring this museum to future events locally, visit va250.org/mobile-museum.
Also in attendance will be Virginia Delegate Terry Austin, who is also the Chairman of the VA250 Commission. He recently shared in an interview that “it’s an honor to chair the commission… We (the commission) have made tremendous strides in what we’re doing and how the commission functions and this is pretty big deal for the Commonwealth. It’s going to be a nice event.”
The O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum is located at 101 Shenandoah Avenue in Downtown Roanoke. For more information, call 540-982-5465.
