MOULTRIE — A marker honoring the founding of Moultrie and its namesake, Major General William Moultrie, was dedicated on the courthouse square.

The John Benning Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a dedication ceremony that included various speakers and the unveiling of the marker.

NSDAR Regent Suzanne Leimer welcomed attendees and the Rev. Stanley Norman of Pine Grove Baptist Church gave the invocation.

The Georgia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presented the colors and NSDAR Chaplain Anita Jones led the audience in singing the National Anthem. Afterwards, Parks Sewell, president of the Thigpen Trail Society of the Children of the American Revolution, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then, Mayor Bill McIntosh gave a brief history of the City of Moultrie and its accomplishments and virtues.

He told the attendees that the Town of Moultrie was incorporated on Dec. 27, 1890, and on Dec. 16, 1895, the Georgia General Assembly passed an act to reincorporate the town as the City of Moultrie.

“In May 1895, in an advertisement, Moultrie was described as ‘Situated way down in South Georgia in the midst of the wiregrass and pines, one of the most flourishing and prosperous towns of the South.’ And I still agree with that,” said McIntosh.

He also encouraged the audience to attend the “Lights! Lights!” Thanksgiving night event in downtown Moultrie.

“Let me just say, it’s been my honor and privilege to serve as mayor of Moultrie. This is now going into my 42nd year. I was born here. I work here. Been mayor. This is some of the finest people you’ll ever find. I’m proud of our city. I know the grass may be greener other places but it’s mighty green here,” McIntosh said.

Next, County Commissioner Paul Nagy spoke on behalf of the Colquitt County government. He said, that as a lieutenant colonel in the USMC, he had the opportunity to live and travel in different places throughout the country and Moultrie was a great place to live.

He told the attendees that General Moultrie had conducted a fighting withdrawal in the defense of Charleston and that, tactically, it was a very difficult and dangerous maneuver.

“He executed a great withdrawal and it ended up in the successful defense of the city. We’re proud to have our county seat named after such an individual,” Nagy said.

NSDAR State Regent Helen Powell spoke next, followed by SAR State President Edward Rigel Jr. Each of them thanked the John Benning Chapter of the NSDAR for sponsoring the event and honoring General Moultrie.

Next, Jean Gay, America 250 co-chair, gave some biographical information on General Moultrie. She said he was born in Charleston and he won great recognition as both a statesman and a soldier.

“The City of Moultrie, Colquitt County, Georgia is quite symbolic of this American whose name it bears,” she said.

She said his name will be forever remembered for his part in the defense of a log fort, on Sullivan’s Island, at the entrance of Charleston Harbor, against the determined British naval attack in 1776.

Gay said that following the Land Lottery of 1827, hundreds of patriots who fought in the war or their descendants came to this area from the Carolinas. She said they brought with them memories of General Moultrie’s popularity. She also said that, at the time, it was customary that towns and communities to be named after a Revolutionary hero.

“General Moultrie was one of those well-loved heroes, truly a man of principal, integrity and courage. What a privilege for our community to be named in honor of such a man,” she said.

Leimer then introduced America 250 Co-chair Nancy Coleman, who spoke about the marker installation in relation to America’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026.

In 2016, Congress established a committee to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, she said.

She went on to say the NSDAR was the first heritage society to formally partner with America 250. She said NSDAR has several programs to help chapters commemorate America 250 and two of them were incorporated in the day’s marker dedication.

“The America 250 Celebration grants are awarded to chapters across the nation to conduct projects to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. The DAR America 250 Patriot Marker Project encourages chapters to erect markers to honor patriots, who, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly with other patriots to establish a new nation,” Coleman said.

She went on to say that the John Benning Chapter used its Celebration Grant to help fund the modified patriots’ marker that not only honors General Moultrie but all patriots.

“Following the lead of the national society, the John Benning Chapter is proud to be a part of the Moultrie-Colquitt County America 250 to plan activities within our community to commemorate America’s 250th birthday,” she said.

Coleman said that it was the NSDAR’s desire that everyone would join together as Americans to celebrate 250 years of “the spirit of 1776,”

Leimer then presented an award to the high school student who wrote the winning Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest. Students were asked to submit an essay on a patriot.

“John Benning Chapter encouraged students to write essays on the city’s namesake, Major General William Moultrie,” she said.

Sanjana Thakor, an 11th-grade student at Colquitt County High School, was the winner. She was presented with a certificate and a $100 check. Her essay will be forwarded to the next level of competition, which could lead to the state and national competition.

Flautist Jaden Taylor, a member of the Colquitt County High School 50th Regiment Band, closed out the program with “Yankee Doodle” while attendees made their way to the marker for the unveiling.

Mayor McIntosh and Leimer unveiled a replica of the marker. The marker itself will be installed in early December.

“Thank you. On behalf of your city, the City of Moultrie, we accept this with a deep appreciation to the DAR for this commemorative plaque. It will be here for future generations to enjoy, to read. It’s just an indicator of our rich past heritage and our bright future that the City of Moultrie has,” said McIntosh.

After the unveiling, the SAR color guard, which included NW Regional Vice President William Edelen Jr. and Commander Scott Collins, performed a musket volley while the “Liberty Bell” was rung by members of the Thigpen Trail Society of the CAR and the SAR, John Wesley Sewell and Thomas Coleman.