North Carolina’s impact, presence, and sway is more far reaching than the 53,819 square miles it encompasses. Anyone who has lived in N.C. for very long likely holds some affinity and dedication to the state, which was not only one of the original 13 colonies, but also the first state to instruct its delegates to vote for independence from the British crown during the 2nd Continental Congress. This series spotlights some little-known people, places, and general facts, to broaden our readers’ knowledge of The Tarheel State.
In May, the first statue honoring a preacher was unveiled in the prominent Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. This preacher, from birth to death, resided in North Carolina. In fact, Rev. Billy Graham, even preached in Macon County 74 summers ago. (Read Macon County Historical Museum curator Robert Shook’s April 25, 2024 article.)
The N.C. governor, speaker of the house, a former vice president, senators, congressmen, and family members of Rev. Graham, who preached to millions of people in his lifetime, attended the unveiling. The likeness of a middle-aged Rev. Graham, who died in 2018 at age 99, was achieved by sculptor Chas Fagan, who also resides in North Carolina. It is the only statue in the U.S. Capitol showing an individual preaching and sharing the Gospel.
Pointed out one of Rev. Graham’s sons, Franklin Graham, at the dedication, “I think he would have been glad to know our nation has made room for the Gospel on Capitol Hill. It’s a start. It’s a wonderful tribute to my father’s enduring legacy as a global evangelist who dedicated his life to fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission.
Another state-related connection is that the bronze sculpture’s pedestal is pink North Carolina granite, on which is carved two scriptures on either side – John 14:6, “Jesus said to him I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father except through me; and John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Additionally, the Bible Rev. Graham is shown holding is opened to Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
After the dedication, the 7-foot statue was moved to its permanent location in the Capitol’s Crypt – a vaulted space just below the Rotunda. It is here that Rev. Graham stands tall among such well-known historical figures as Samuel Adams, Helen Keller, and Amelia Earhart.
During Rev. Graham’s lifetime, he shared the Gospel with countless people. Some of his grandchildren spoke at the dedication. A few expressed a hope that the enduring statue of their North Carolina, dairy-farm-raised grandfather, so prominent in such an important historic site, will impact visitors for generations.
“We just pray that this statue will mean a difference here in the Capitol,” said grandson Edward Graham.
“Daddy Bill, in the heart of the nation, is still proclaiming the Gospel,” shared granddaughter Cissie Graham Lynch.