In anticipation of Supernatural’s series finale on Thursday November 19, the Lawrence, Kansas city commission issued a proclamation declaring their town the official home of monster hunters Sam and Dean Winchester. Outgoing Mayor, Jennifer Ananda presented the proclamation in a Wednesday city commission meeting held over Zoom.
During the City Commission meeting, Mayor Ananda proudly displayed a Supernatural Zoom background featuring the Lawrence’s newly appointed hometown heroes. The politician expressed how much the show meant to her, personally, as well as what it means for the city of Lawrence. The official proclamation states: “while never perfect, Sam & Dean Winchester fought for what was right & good ― family, friends, fairness and helping others. They represent true Kansans, & especially Lawrencians, rising literally from the flames of death more than once, & persevering through difficulties” (Lawrence City Commission).
Ananda detailed the ways in which the show Supernatural provided on-screen representation for the city of Lawrence from the area codes on the Winchester’s phones, the tags on their beloved 1967 Chevy Impala and their support of the Kansas University Jayhawks. “Just as I am proud that they our ours,” the Mayor said before the proclamation “they should be just as proud that we our there’s” (Lawrence City Commission).
Prior to her presentation, Mayor Ananda noted that the city commission tried to involve Supernatural actors Jared Padalecki (Supernatural, Gilmore Girls) and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, My Bloody Valentine) in the ceremony, but the plans were disrupted by COVID-19. Ananda listed the many activities the two actors could get up to in Lawrence, including clearing the town of some old ghosts.
Though not involved in the ceremony itself, Padalecki shared his excitement about the news on Twitter alongside quippy request for some leniency on speeding tickets within the city limits. Ananda proclaimed that she may have “peaked” when she saw that Padalecki had recognized her proclamation, via Twitter. The outgoing Mayor of Lawrence then went on to join in the sea of social media sendoffs to the series as the finale drew closer on Thursday.
Ultimately, Ananda said that Lawrence’s proclamation was an opportunity to bring some levity to a particularly heavy year, via Lawrence City Commission. Now legal proclamations can be added to the growing legacy that Sam and Dean Winchester are leaving behind after conducting the family business of saving people and hunting things for fifteen years on Supernatural.