A Salute to Southwest Virginia: 250th Anniversary of the Fincastle Resolutions

Date and Time

• Saturday, Jan 18, 2025  2pm - 4pm

Location

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Details

Virginia will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Fincastle Resolutions, which 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.

To honor this milestone, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) will host a special event titled "A Salute to Southwest Virginia" at the O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum. The event will feature a variety of exhibits and activities, including the launch of the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience and a dynamic, new “VA250 Fanfare” composed by Broadway Music Director and Arranger David Chase and performed by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

On January 20, 1775, fifteen 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. Their actions inspired Patrick Henry's iconic "Liberty or Death" speech and ultimately fueled the American Revolution.

“These were strong-willed folks who really did not like being told what to do," said Eric Monday, a VA250 Commission member and historian with deep roots in Southern Virginia. “They had come to the frontier because they wanted to be free to choose where and how to live and worship. By 1775 they were ready to live and die for their liberty, and they put that in writing so that everyone — King and country — would know. That defiant frontier spirit lives on in the people of Southwest Virginia today.”

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.

Location: O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum 101 Shenandoah Ave NE, Roanoke, VA, 24016

Patriotic musical performances by:

VMI Regimental Band
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

Event highlights:

Master of Ceremonies Joe Dashiel
Flag presentation by the Virginia SAR Color Guard
Reenactment of William Christian delivering the Fincastle Resolutions to Williamsburg on horseback
Dramatic reading of the Fincastle Resolutions by local students
Keynote remarks by VA250 National Honorary Chair Carly Fiorina
Grand opening of three new exhibits at the Roanoke History Museum
Ribbon-cutting ceremony and official debut of the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience
Free and family-friendly