Library flagpole rises ahead of Freedom Fest
The 30 ft. flagpole stands proud and tall in front of the Darlington Library. The official Dedication and Flag-raising ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, during Darlington’s Freedom Fest Celebration. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
Hardworking members of the Darlington Fire Department and Darlington County Facilities Management Dept. skillfully erected the new flagpole in front of the Darlington Library on North Main Street. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
A symbol of community, ingenuity and country now stands tall over the Darlington Branch Library, thanks to a collaborative effort between local first responders, county workers, and library staff in preparation for one of the most significant patriotic milestones in our nation’s history.
On Friday, June 19, a brand-new 30-foot flagpole was carefully erected outside the Darlington Branch Library, with the completion of the project made possible through the combined efforts of the Darlington County Facilities Management and the Darlington Fire Department.
Contractors recently completed the concrete, brick work and initial preparation before the Management crew and the Fire Department stepped in.
Facilities Manager Jason Francis and his crew prepared the pole, threading the interior halyard system, fitting the revolving truck and attaching the solar-powered light to the top. After stabilizing the pole at ground level, the Fire Department was able to finish the job using their aerial platform truck to lift, position, and secure the towering pole with precision and care. The skill and steady hands of Captain Perry Kelly, Lieutenant A.J. Cox, and Facilities Manager Jason Francis ensured the flagpole was installed safely and securely.
The timing of the installation is no coincidence. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary — our semiquincentennial — communities across the country are finding meaningful ways to honor the occasion. In Darlington, that tribute will rise each morning on this very flagpole, a daily reminder of the freedoms and sacrifices that have shaped the nation since 1776.
The Friends of the Darlington Library and the Darlington County Library System now invite the entire community to witness the flagpole’s official unveiling and dedication during Freedom Fest, a celebration honoring both the nation’s storied past and the generations of Darlington County residents who have helped write its story.
Event Details:
Flagpole Dedication Ceremony & Flag Raising (American and South Carolina flags)
Saturday, June 27, at 6:30 PM
Darlington Branch Library, 204 N. Main Street, Darlington, SC
Community members are encouraged to come out, celebrate, and stand together as the American and South Carolina flags are raised for the first time atop this new monument to liberty and local pride. The ceremony promises to be a fitting tribute to the countless individuals — from founding generations to today’s everyday heroes, like the firefighters, library staff and facilities management workers who made this project possible — whose daily contributions continue to shape both Darlington County and the United States of America.