WHEREAS, in 1917, Lewis D. Peeler founded Cheerwine in Salisbury, North Carolina; five generations later, Cheerwine remains one of the oldest continuously family-operated companies in America; and
WHEREAS, Cheerwine employs hundreds of hard-working North Carolinians, contributing to our state’s economic prosperity; and
WHEREAS, for over a hundred years, North Carolina residents have enjoyed Cheerwine during some of the most cheerful moments of their lives, including holidays, family cookouts, weddings, and summer vacations along the North Carolina coast; and
WHEREAS, since Cheerwine’s 100th anniversary in 2017, the soft drink has held a Cheerwine Festival on the third Saturday of May on the downtown streets of its hometown, Salisbury, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the annual event draws tens of thousands of attendees from across the country to North Carolina and, since its inception, has generated millions of dollars for the city and state economies; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is proud to be home to this historical company, and commends its decades of work in bringing our residents together through the simple act of sharing and enjoying a soda;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 20, 2023, as “CHEERWINE DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.