Order of the Long Leaf Pine

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1965, is an honor that can be granted in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Although the Longleaf Pine is often quoted as the official state tree of North Carolina,[1] the actual state law refers only to a generic pine.[2] As of 2009, it was believed the Order had been awarded to more than 15,000 people.[3]

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. The honor is most often presented when a person retires.

A state employee can be awarded The Order if the employee has contributed more than 30 years of dedicated and enthusiastic service to the state of North Carolina.

The Order is similar to honors bestowed in other states, such as the Kentucky colonel and South Carolina's Order of the Palmetto. Originally, the Order was a symbolic honor for visiting dignitaries, but later it became an honor for notable North Carolinians. Although sometimes called the state's highest civilian honor, that distinction legally belongs to the North Carolina Award.[4]

Notable recipients

Certificate

The certificate reads in part:

"Reposing special confidence in the integrity, learning and zeal of [honoree], I [the Governor of North Carolina] do by these presents confer The Order of the Long Leaf Pine with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary, privileged to enjoy fully all rights granted to members of this exalted order, among which is the special privilege to propose the following North Carolina toast in select company anywhere in the free world:"

Here's to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State![13]

This is the first verse of the official toast of North Carolina, from a poem by Leonora Martin and Mary Burke Kerr.

References

  1. ↑ Case, Steven. "Tree, Pine". State Symbols. State Library of North Carolina. Retrieved May 16, 2012.,
  2. ↑ "North Carolina General Statutes 145-3". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved Feb 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.longleafpinesociety.org
  4. ↑ News & Observer: And his little dog, too...
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Beckwith, Ryan Teague (26 June 2007). "What is the Order of the Long Leaf Pine?". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Beckwith, Ryan Teague (6 May 2009). "Easley inducted 4,000 into Order". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Poff, Jan-Michael, ed. (2000). Addresses and Public Papers of James Baxter Hunt Jr. Governor of North Carolina Vol. III 1993–1997. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. ISBN 0-86526-289-6.
  8. ↑ "Ellington awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine". UNC: ITS website. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Origin & History". The Long Leaf Pine Society. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ Hackley to Serve as Interim Chancellor of FSU
  11. ↑ Asheville Citizen-Times, Jon Ostendorf, Jan 5, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Warren awarded Long Leaf Pine". The Daily Reflector. April 30, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  13. ↑ Sample certificate

External links