Commemorating Loudoun’s Revolutionary War History
On June 14, 1774, Loudoun County “Freeholders and other inhabitants” met in the county courthouse in Leesburg to “consider the most effectual method to preserve the rights and liberties of N. America, and relieve our brethren of Boston, suffering under the most oppressive and tyrannical Act of the British Parliament.” These men drafted a document—the Loudoun Resolves—declaring their loyalty to Britain and the king but opposing taxation without representation.
Thus began our county’s participation in what would lead to the Revolutionary War and, ultimately, America’s independence. A microcosm of the revolutionary movement in America, Loudoun’s experiences will be remembered in unique programs and events around the county in the coming years during our country’s 250th anniversary.
As Loudoun County, among other communities across our country, began to commemorate the 250th anniversary—the semiquincentennial—of the Revolutionary War and America’s independence, the Loudoun VA250 Committee was formed in September 2022. Colleagues from local museums, historic sites, libraries, tourism, and related fields gathered for the first meeting. The Committee now number nearly three dozen individuals, including representatives from Loudoun Museum, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, Lovettsville Historical Society, Middleburg Museum, NOVA Parks, Dodona Manor, Oatlands, Morven Park, Balch Library, the Black History Committee of Balch, Loudoun County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Libraries, members of local DAR and SAR chapters, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Waterford Foundation, Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area, Visit Loudoun, Leesburg Economic Development, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and others. Committee members serve on one or more subcommittees, including Education, Programs, Signage, Outreach, Ways & Means, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Our committee was formally recognized by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in May 2023.
Loudoun VA250 is one of approximately 130 local committees around the Commonwealth to join the statewide effort established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020. With the tagline “Virginia’s History is America’s Story,” the Commonwealth was among the first states to create a 250 commission. Loudoun VA250 will participate in Virginia’s statewide efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Virginia’s contribution to American independence. We will plan and coordinate thought-provoking and revelatory programs and events within Loudoun to realize an inclusive, positive legacy and long-term benefits for residents and visitors. We hope to help our citizens learn about our colonial and Revolutionary War history, while clarifying that America is still striving to achieve the Declaration of Independence’s promise of liberty and equality for all. Essentially, Loudoun VA250, with the other local 250 committees, hopes to educate our citizens: to help them understand where we’ve come from and where we’re going. That objective is the reason the Virginia 250 Commission chose “To Form a More Perfect Union” as its theme. The founders of our country knew there was more work required 250 years ago, and work remains to be done today. Consequently, our committee will offer programs beyond historical topics of just the 18th century. Programs offered or endorsed by the Loudoun VA250 Committee since its founding included several topics: John Champe, a Loudoun-born American soldier who became a spy in an attempt to capture Benedict Arnold; the Boston Tea Party and similar incidents around the colonies; James Monroe, a Continental Army soldier long before he became fifth president of the United States; Loudoun on the Eve of the Revolution—looking at the 18thcentury demographics and land cover of our county; and annual public readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Loudoun VA250 Committee members are planning many other programs and events in the coming months and years, as we continue to commemorate America’s birth and our continued quest for liberty and equality for all our citizens. For more information about Loudoun’s committee, please visit visitloudoun.org/loudoun250 and follow us on Facebook.com/LoudounVA250. To learn more about Virginia’s 250 Commission, visit va250.org.
Tracy Gillespie, History Educator with NOVA Parks, is the cofounder, and served as the first chairperson, of the Loudoun VA250 Committee. She continues to serve as a liaison between the committee and County staff, and as the committee contact with the VA250 Commission. In Our Backyard is sponsored by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For more information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org.
