10/06/2026
What an amazing night this was! I had the pleasure of presenting the AMERICA 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” LEGACY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE to our one and only City of Raeford Mayor McNeill! This is how it went….
Dear Mayor McNeill,
It is with great pleasure and sincere appreciation that I congratulate you on being selected as a recipient of the EXCELLENCE AWARD presented during the America 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” Legacy Awards Ceremony.
This recognition is more than an award it is a public acknowledgment of your many years of service, leadership, and commitment to the people of Hoke County and the City of Raeford.
Hoke County is home to me. I grew up right here in the City of Raeford, and because of that, this celebration and the opportunity to recognize individuals who have poured into our community holds a very special place in my heart. On a personal note, I remember you as my brother’s coach during his high school years. To now have the opportunity to publicly honor you for your years of service to the very community that shaped so many of us is truly meaningful to me.
Continuing the America 250 NC Commemoration
The America 250 NC celebration is much larger than a single year or a single event.
While 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, North Carolina is taking a broader approach to this historic commemoration because of our state’s significant Revolutionary history. North Carolina’s official America 250 NC program is a multi-year commemoration, with activities continuing through 2033 to reflect the state’s Revolutionary history.
The Revolutionary War period extended across several years, and North Carolina experienced important Revolutionary-era events throughout that period. As a result, our state has an opportunity to continue telling these stories beyond 2026, bringing forward the people, communities, places, sacrifices, struggles, and contributions that helped shape North Carolina and the United States.
That is why the work of our local America 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” Committee does not simply end with the 2026 celebration. We have established programs and initiatives that can continue helping Hoke County tell its story and recognize the people who have contributed to the community we call home.
Our goal is to ensure that the legacy of this historic commemoration lives beyond 2026.
Recognizing Your Legacy of Service
The America 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” Committee believes that commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary should also mean celebrating the people whose lives, leadership, and service have helped shape our local community.
Your years of service represent an important part of Hoke County’s story. The EXCELLENCE AWARD was our way of publicly acknowledging and honoring that service and ensuring that your contributions are recognized as part of our community’s legacy.
The Hoke County County Flag Challenge
I would also like to recognize the significance of another initiative spearheaded by our committee; the America 250 NC Hoke County Flag Challenge.
The County Flag Challenge gave our elementary school-aged children an opportunity to learn about Hoke County, express their creativity, and imagine what a flag representing their community could look like.
Darryl’s winning flag and essay are featured on the official America 250 NC STATE website, allowing his vision for Hoke County to become part of North Carolina’s statewide America 250 story.
As a committee, we were honored to have Darryl’s winning flag custom-made, and it was presented to him during the America 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” Legacy Awards Ceremony.
Darryl’s flag had also become part of the Hoke County Parade of Flags Tour.
Hoke County Parade of Flags Tour
The Parade of Flags was created to visually tell the story of who we are as Hoke County.
The flags represent the heritage, history, cultures, communities, and international connections that exist within our county. It is an opportunity for residents and visitors to see that Hoke County is made up of many different backgrounds and stories and that each of those stories contributes to the larger story of our community.
The Parade of Flags is currently being displayed at the Hoke County Public Library through November 5th. It will then move to the Raeford-Hoke Museum beginning November 7th and continuing through December.
Our hope is that the Parade of Flags will eventually have a permanent home in Hoke County. I would love to see these flags displayed at Freedom Park or at the new Hoke County Courthouse, where residents, visitors, students, and future generations can experience this visual representation of our community.
The flags tell a story.
They tell the story of where we have come from, who has made Hoke County home, the cultures and communities that exist within our county, and the importance of recognizing that we truly are stronger when we stand together united as one community.
Looking Toward the Future
As North Carolina continues its America 250 commemoration through 2033, I hope Hoke County will continue to build upon the foundation that has been established through initiatives such as the Legacy Awards, Meet the Elders Oral History Project, Miss Hoke Unity Pageant, We Are One Hoke Unity Concerts, County Flag Challenge, Hoke County Parade of Flags Tour, and our Virtual Historical Tour.
These initiatives give us an opportunity to preserve our history while also creating new memories for the generations that will come after us.
Mayor McNeill, congratulations once again on receiving the EXCELLENCE AWARD.
Your years of service deserve to be acknowledged, celebrated, and preserved as part of the history of Hoke County. As someone who was born and raised here, I am proud to be a part of recognizing the people who have helped make Hoke County what it is today.
Thank you for the many years you have given to our community and for the lives you have touched along the way.
May your legacy of service continue to be remembered as part of the story of Hoke County; our home.
With sincere appreciation and congratulations,
Iris Flowers
Chairperson
America 250 NC Hoke County “We Are One” Committee
