[VAcourier] General Assembly Honors Robert E. Lee

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

Gentlemen,

The Virginia General Assembly approved a resolution today honoring 
Robert E. Lee.  The text of the resolution is below.  We owe a deal of 
gratitude to Senator Emmett Hanger, Delegates Benjamin Cline and 
Christopher Peace for sponsoring the resolution found below and for the 
dedication of those who served on the Robert E. Lee Memorial 
Commission.  Although the commission's term is expired several events 
throughout the year to honor the 200th Anniversay of Robert E. Lee's 
birth have yet to occurred, so the celebration continues.  Since the 
effort to make this celebration a reality began while I was commander, I 
would personally like to thank these legislators and past commander Brag 
Bowling for representing the SCV on the commission.  May the stainless 
name of Robert E. Lee never be tarnished.

Sincerely,
Brandon Dorsey




HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 990

Offered February 19, 2007

Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee.
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Patrons-- Cline and Peace; Senator: Hanger

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WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee was born to Revolutionary War hero "Light Horse 
Harry" Lee and Anne Carter Lee at Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, 
Virginia, on January 19, 1807; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee attended West Point Military Academy where he 
graduated second in his class without receiving a single demerit; and

WHEREAS, on June 30, 1831, Robert E. Lee married Mary Ann Randolph 
Custis, the only daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, the 
grandson of Martha Washington, and the adopted grandson of George 
Washington; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee served in the United States Army for nearly 32 
years and was offered the command of the Union Army at the outset of the 
Civil War; and

WHEREAS, after suffering through a great deal of internal conflict, 
Robert E. Lee chose to link his fate to his native Virginia, stating 
that he could not "lift his hand against his own people"; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia 
in the Confederate capital of Richmond on June 1, 1862; and

WHEREAS, following the collapse of the Confederate States of America, 
Robert E. Lee encouraged the people of the South to "abandon your 
animosities, and make your sons Americans"; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee accepted the position of president of Washington 
College in Lexington, Virginia, where he strove to improve the plight of 
the war-ravaged South through economic prosperity enhanced through 
education; and

WHEREAS, one of Robert E. Lee's greatest contributions to higher 
education may be his consistent and often stated emphasis on individual 
honor exemplified by his statement that "We have but one rule, and it is 
that every student is a gentleman"; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee's insistence on personal honor developed into the 
Washington and Lee University Honor Code, which is still among the 
strongest in the our nation today; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee's commitment and strength of personality is 
considered to have led to both increased philanthropic support and 
increased student enrollment from northern states and to have laid the 
foundation that transformed Washington College into a modern university; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee sought public funding for higher education and 
petitioned the Virginia General Assembly in December 1865 for support 
for professorships in diverse fields of study, such as chemical 
engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, modern 
languages, history, and literature; and

WHEREAS, in 1869, Robert E. Lee obtained funding for and purchased 
significant amounts of scientific equipment for Washington College to 
further his vision of practical educational courses for students; and

WHEREAS, as an educator, Robert E. Lee's vision and foresight led to the 
implementation of business courses and a proposed curriculum for a 
School of Commerce, which at the time, was a new educational concept; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee's innovations in higher education also included 
incorporating the study of law into the courses available for students 
enrolled at Washington College; and

WHEREAS, in spite of public criticism from the established media, under 
the guidance of Robert E. Lee, Washington College began offering the 
nation's first higher education courses in journalism; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee had further ambitious plans for Washington 
College that would have included a School of Agriculture and School of 
Medicine that were left unrealized upon his untimely death; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee died on October 12, 1870, in Lexington, Virginia; 
and the 200th anniversary of Robert E. Lee's birth occurred on January 
19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Robert E. Lee stated that "Every one should do all in his power 
to collect and disseminate the truth, in the hope that it may find a 
place in history, and descend to posterity"; and

WHEREAS, the celebrations, forums, special resources for the public 
schools, and promotion of tourism of historic sites related to Robert E. 
Lee will bring nationwide attention to the legacy of Robert E. Lee and 
the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly previously established the Robert 
E. Lee Memorial Commission of the Commonwealth to plan for the 
commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee; and

WHEREAS, members of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Commission of the 
Commonwealth have fulfilled their mission by establishing a website, by 
preparing a brochure for distribution, and by encouraging the listing of 
the Lee Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, on the national register; now, 
therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the 
Joint Subcommittee to Coordinate the 200th anniversary commemoration of 
the birth of Robert E. Lee be applauded for the effort and commitment of 
its members; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the many and varied historic sites and 
organizations, including Stratford Hall, Washington and Lee University, 
the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, the Confederate Memorial 
Literacy Society, the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate 
Veterans, and the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the 
Confederacy that provide educational programming on the life and times 
of Robert E. Lee be urged to provide links to their celebratory events 
schedule on the RELee2007.com website developed by the joint 
subcommittee in order to provide easy access for scheduling by Virginia 
residents, school students, and tourists; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That Virginia residents, school students, and tourists 
be encouraged to visit the Lee Memorial on Monument Avenue in Richmond, 
which is not only a Virginia historic resource but also listed on the 
national register as kept by the National Park Service; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly acknowledge the diverse 
historical personages, places, and events that shaped our Commonwealth 
and in great measure shaped our nation; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly concur with Robert E. Lee 
that it is important that Virginians strive to "collect and disseminate 
the truth, in the hope that it may find a place in history, and descend 
to posterity"; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare 
copies of this resolution for presentation to the family of Robert E. 
Lee and to members of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Commission in order 
that future generations may be educated about the life, values, and 
accomplishments of Robert E. Lee.

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Legislative Information System <http://leg1.state.va.us/071/lis.htm>


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