Lawrence County Bicentennial Torch Relay Torchbearer Nomination Program

Last updated on Tuesday, January 23, 2018

(BEDFORD) - One signature event of the Lawrence County Bicentennial celebration will be the Bicentennial Torch Relay which will take place in the fall.

The Lawrence County Bicentennial Commission is accepting torchbearer nominations until Feb. 28. Torchbearer nominations will recognize Lawrence Countians who have demonstrated exceptional public service, excellence in their professions, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhoods, communities, region or state.

Nominations can be submitted online - click here.

The Lawrence County Bicentennial Torch Relay will be patterned after the Olympic Torch Relay and Indiana Department of Tourism's Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay. The Bicentennial torch will pass through all nine Lawrence County townships, and the route will be designed to unite Lawrence County citizens and communities during the bicentennial celebration year.

The Lawrence County Running Club is working with Lawrence County Tourism, the Bicentennial Commission and law enforcement officials to finalize the route. The relay will showcase locations of natural beauty, local interest and historic significance in the county.

Torchbearer nomination forms are available at five locations: Lawrence County Auditors Office, Lawrence County Tourism Office, Bedford City Hall, Mitchell City Hall and Oolitic Town Hall. Turn in forms at those locations, send them via e-mail to lawrencecountybicentennial@gmail.com or by mail to Lawrence County Bicentennial Torchbearer, 405 I St., Bedford, IN 47421. An online nomination form is available at this link:

Lawrence County Bicentennial Torch Relay Torchbearer Nomination Form

Once all nomination forms are collected, a juried nomination process will be employed to select torchbearers. A Torchbearer Nomination committee has been formed to manage this process. Nominees must be current or former residents of Lawrence County or be nominated in honor of a current or former resident. Individuals may be nominated posthumously and the name of a substitute torchbearer may be submitted to carry the torch or behalf of the nominee.

Nominees must be at least 10 years of age, and torchbearers younger than 18 will need to meet other youth torchbearer requirements. A nominee must possess the physical adaptive ability to carry the torch a minimum of a quarter-mile. Accommodations will be made for those torchbearers with disabilities.

The Lawrence County Bicentennial Torch Relay was created to honor Lawrence Countians who have demonstrated exceptional public service, achievement and/or volunteer service to their neighbors, communities, region, state or country.

Torchbearers will represent all nine Lawrence County townships and all walks of life.

Torchbearer Nomination Criteria (ALL of the following criteria must be met)

Nominee must be a current or former resident of Lawrence County.
Nominee may be any age to participate as a Torchbearer.
Nominee must possess the physical ability to carry a torch a minimum of .25 miles or engage the assistance of another person or mounting bracket for alternate transpiration of torch.
Posthumous nominations will be accepted. A substitute Torchbearer nominee should be submitted to carry the torch on behalf of the nominee.
Nominee, if selected, will be required to sign a Torchbearer waiver form. If the nominee less than 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be required to complete and sign the Torchbearer Waiver Form.
Nominee may be subject to a criminal background check.

One of the two following criteria must be met:

The nominee has achieved personal or professional excellence or celebrity status OR
The nominee has made an outstanding contribution to his or her neighborhood, community, region, state or country.

Nominator Criteria

There are no restrictions on the number of nominations any one person is permitted to submit.
Self-nominations are not accepted.
Anonymous nominations are not accepted.
Nominators must submit a complete form. Partial or incomplete forms will not be accepted.

Methods of Nomination

PICK-UP--Pick-up a nomination form from Bedford City Hall, Mitchell City Hall, Oolitic Town Hall, Lawrence County Tourism or the Lawrence County Auditors Office; visit this link: Lawrence County Bicentennial Torch Relay Torchbearer Nomination Form
SUBMIT--Return completed nomination forms to Bedford City Hall, Mitchell City Hall, Oolitic Town Hall, Lawrence County

Tourism, Lawrence County Auditors Office OR email lawrencecountybicentennial@gmail.com OR mail Lawrence County Torch- bearer Nomination, 405 I Street, Bedford, IN 47421.

Lawrence County Bicentennial Torchbearer Nomination form deadline for submission is February 28, 2018.

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