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OUR STATE FLOWER
The Dogwood was adopted as the official State
Flower of North Carolina by the General As
sembly of 1941, replacing the Goldenrod. No
where in the world is the dogwood as abundant
and as beautiful as in this state. It is our symbol
of immortality, and of peace, and of faith.
TAR HEEL
When Carolina was divided in 1710 into North
Carolina and South Carolina, historians recorded
that the principal products of this State were tar,
pitch and turpentine. It was during one of the
fiercest battles of the Civil War, so the story goes,
that the Column supporting the North Carolina
troops was driven from the field. After the battle,
the North Carolinians, who had successfully fought
it out alone, were greeted with; "Any more tar
down in the Old North State, boys?” Came this
reply: "No, not a bit; old Jeff’s bought it all up.”
"Is that so; what is he going to do with it?” they
were asked. "He’s going to put in on you’ns heels
to make you stick better in the next fight.” Creecy
relates that General Lee, hearing of the incident,
said: "God bless the Tar Heel boys,” and from
that they took their name.
This is the version of our nickname as adapted
from Grandfather Tales of North Carolina by R.
B. Creecy and Histories of North Carolina Regi
ments.
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