By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Special to the Reporter

Alabama is celebrating its 200th statehood birthday on Dec. 14, 2019.

Gov. Robert Bentley and the Alabama Legislature established the Alabama Bicentennial Commission to promote and coordinate statewide activities to celebrate the 200^th anniversary.

The “mission of Alabama 200 is to support, create, and execute events and activities that commemorate the stories of our people, place, and path to statehood (see Alabama200.org).”

On Sunday, Aug. 21 at the North Shelby Library, the Shelby County chapters of Sons of the American Revolution Cahaba Coosa, Daughters of the American Revolution David Lindsay, and the Children of the American Revolution Jane Bland chapters sponsored their first Alabama 200 event in Shelby County.

Alabama Bicentennial Ambassador Bobby Joe Seales and DAR Vice President General Connie Grund were featured speakers. Special guest was Mary Casey Lindsay, wife of Revolutionary War Soldier, Shelby County pioneer and DAR chapter namesake, portrayed by David Lindsay Chapter Regent Phoebe Robinson.

Cahaba Coosa President Charles Nuckolls presided. Compatriot Robert Robinson sang the National Anthem and Alabama State song and the David Lindsay Chapter provided refreshments.

Alabama 200 will be a three-year celebration: 2017 focus is exploring our places, kickoff March 3, 2017 in Mobile; 2018 will honor our people, event Alabama Heritage Festival in Birmingham; and 2019 theme is sharing our stories, event in Huntsville and Statehood celebration Dec. 14, 2019 in Montgomery.

The SAR, DAR and CAR are committed to promote the bicentennial throughout the next three years. DAR State Regent Nancy Folk has chosen for her regent’s project several bicentennial needs: Raising funds for digitization machine to preserve Alabama archives; purchase biographies of famous Alabamians for libraries; restoring historical homes and buildings, and much more.

Among those attending the Bicentennial event were: Cahaba Coosa Chapter officers -President Charles Nuckolls and wife Belinda, Vice President Don Robertson, Secretary Larry, Treasurer C.W. Posey; Alabama DAR State Officers Regent Nancy Folk, Second Vice Regent Patrice Donnelly, Recording Secretary Rita Reid, Librarian Martha Ann Whitt; CAR State Chair Mindy Manners and husband Keaton; Cahaba Coosa Color Guard Glenn Nivens, William Wyatt and Hunter Wilhelm; SAR State Officers – President Fred Olive, Past President John Wallace and Vice President Hal Thornton; CAR Jane Bland Chapter and CAR State President Bob Thomas; and David Lindsay Daughters – Regent Robinson, Registrar Judith Arthur, Reid, Diane Seales, Neville Peacock, Mary Harris, Linda Selby and Sally Cox.