NATIONAL NORTH CAROLINA DAY CELEBRATES THE TAR HEEL STATE
North Carolinians rejoice because September 28 is National North Carolina Day! We’re here to celebrate all things North Carolina and the state's rich contributions to our nation’s history. From fast facts to battleship namesakes, check out all you need to know about the Tar Heel State on September 28. Read next:Declaration of Independence Grievances That Led to the Birth of a Nation
Why Celebrate National North Carolina Day?
North Carolina History
North Carolina has been an important part of American history from the get-go. They were the very first state to explicitly support American independence from Britain. On November 21, 1789, they became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, many important historical battles that led to the development of our nation as we know it were fought in the state.
- Battle of Roanoke Island: This battle was an important victory for the Union (of which North Carolina was not a part) as one of their first major wins of the Civil War.
- Battle of Wilmington: Wilmington was another crucial Union victory, as it allowed them to cut off the Confederacy from using Wilmington as a port and helped them to overcome Confederate forces at Cape Fear River.
- Battle of Bentonville: This battle is given the title of the largest ever fought in the Tar Heel State, as it was the only considerable attempt to overcome Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s impressive forces. It was also home to some of the final actions of the Civil War in which Confederate forces could mount a reasonable offensive.
Suffice to say, the history of North Carolina is wildly important to where we are as a society today.
The USS North Carolina
North Carolina battleship. The most popular USS North Carolina (BB-55), quite literally in a class of her own fast battleships, was the first ship of the type built for the Navy. Following the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941, the USS North Carolina was among the first ships mobilized for offensive action. She played a huge part in the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and several campaigns throughout the central Pacific from 1943-1944. You can now find the BB-55 sitting as a memorial/museum in Wilmington. Here, you can learn more in-depth info about the ship’s history, explore USS North Carolina photos, and celebrate her legacy and the legacies of those who served aboard her. More ships have been named after the state, too, including:
- USS North Carolina (1820 original), which was a 74-gun ship that served as the flagship for Commodore John Rodgers.
- USS North Carolina (ACR-12), which transported troops during WWI.
- USS North Carolina (BB-52), which was scrapped before launch.
- USS North Carolina (SSN-777), which was created in 2008 and is currently in service.
Military Bases in North Carolina
Of the eight military bases in North Carolina, one stands above the rest. Fort Bragg is the largest military base not only in the states but in the entire world in terms of population. As of mid-2022, Fort Bragg has 260,000 people living on base, with over 52,000 of these being active-duty Soldiers. As a U.S. Army base, and the biggest one at that, Fort Bragg’s role is vital to the nation’s security. Fort Bragg, located just northwest of Fayetteville, NC, is home to the ever-popular 82nd Airborne Division, as well as the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team, U.S. Army Special Ops Command, and the XVIII Airborne Corps. The base is responsible for maintaining America’s Contingency Corps, which is a group responsible for rapid air, sea, and land deployment anywhere in the world in the event of a crisis. To Fort Bragg and other NC installations like MCAS New River, Seymour Johnson AFB, and Camp Lejeune, we celebrate National North Carolina Day for you.
Fast Facts About North Carolina
- The North Carolina state bird is the Northern Cardinal.
- The North Carolina flag has a blue field on the left with NC and a yellow star in the middle with a red rectangle on the top right and a white rectangle on the bottom right.
- The North Carolina state motto is “Esse Quam Videri,” or “To be rather than to seem.”
- The North Carolina state flower is the dogwood. (Bonus: These stink really badly when they’re in bloom.)
- The North Carolina nickname is the Tar Heel State. It gets its name from colonial times when the state was a top provider of tar, pitch, and turpentine to naval stores. These were produced in abundance by the state’s common longleaf pine trees.
Have We Given You Enough Reason To Celebrate?
On National North Carolina Day, we’re gonna take some time and remember the contributions of the state to our history and the creation of the U.S. as we know it. Give any North Carolinians in your life a high five today, and see if you can outsmart them with some of the stuff you’ve learned here! Suggested read:10 Best States for Military Retirement
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