[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 18278-18279] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL: VIRGINIA LEADS THE WAY ______ HON. FRANK R. WOLF of virginia in the house of representatives Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, the years 2011 through 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, a momentous milestone for our nation that provides an exceptional opportunity to examine the war, its causes and its legacies. The sesquicentennial commemoration of the American Civil War needs to involve full participation at the local, State and Federal levels. However, as there are currently no Federal plans for the sesquicentennial, the states have stepped in to take the lead in planning for this watershed event. I am proud to announce that Virginia leads the nation in being the first to establish a sesquicentennial commission that is planning events and activities that offer a fair and balanced depiction of Civil War history that includes all perspectives. I am pleased to support the work of the Commission and endorse its plans. Virginia was the epicenter of the Civil War in the 1860s and continues to be a central location in terms of what visitors can see and experience today. Virginia has more Civil War battlefields, museums and historic sites than any other state, including the historic site of the first land battle of the Civil War at Manassas that is located in the 10th Congressional District, which I represent. Too often when we study history, we tend to think that battles were neatly fought within the split-rail fenced boundaries. In truth, most of Virginia was a battleground during the Civil War. Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission The Virginia General Assembly created the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission in 2006 for the purpose of preparing for and commemorating the sesquicentennial of Virginia's participation in the American Civil War. Speaker of the House of Delegates William Howell chairs the Commission, whose other members include President Pro Tempore of the Senate Chuck Colgan, members of the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia, citizens, and the renowned Civil War historian Dr. James I. ``Bud'' Robertson, Jr., of Virginia Tech. It is important to recall that Dr. Robertson was selected by President Kennedy to serve as executive director of the Federal Centennial Commission 50 years ago. The Commission is charged with: Planning commemorative programs and activities that are designed to involve all citizens and result in a positive legacy and long-term public benefit, Encouraging civic, historical, educational, economic, and other organizations throughout Virginia to organize and participate in activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the American Civil War, and Providing technical assistance to localities and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. The Commission has established the following goals to guide the commemoration that [[Page 18279]] are reflective of values that are important to Americans today: Diversity: The commemoration will be inclusive of and meaningful to all Virginians, particularly: diverse racial and ethnic groups, citizens who are new to this country and those who do not have a hereditary link to the American Civil War, and young people and others seeking to understand the relevance of the American Civil War to today's society. Inclusiveness: The commemoration will seek to portray a fair and balanced story of Virginia's participation in the American Civil War that includes African-American, Union, and Confederate perspectives. Statewide Accessibility: The commemoration will be statewide, involving all localities and encompassing all Civil War-related institutions, museums, battlefields, parks, and facilities. Education: The commemoration will include a strong education component designed to ignite a renewed interest in Virginia's historical heritage. Opportunities will be provided to re-examine the lessons of the past and the legacies of the Civil War to understand how they affect the present and continue to shape our future. Permanence: The commemoration will imprint Virginia history and leave a positive and rich legacy well beyond 2015. The Commission has begun to develop plans for how to recognize the magnitude of this occasion. The Commission has adopted a vision statement that will guide the commemoration period, ``Understanding Our Past, Embracing Our Future,'' launched a Web site that is receiving national and international attention (www.VirginiaCiviIWar.org), and is developing a comprehensive array of initiatives, including: Statewide coordination: Linking, coordinating, and promoting the hundreds of Civil War museums and sites throughout the state. Museum exhibitions: Partnering with the Virginia Historical Society to develop a major exhibition, ``An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia,'' as well as the Civil War 150 HistoryMobile, a mobile museum vehicle that will be capable of traveling throughout the nation to bring these important stories directly to the people. Legacy Project: Document Digitization: Using the sesquicentennial as an opportunity to preserve and provide access to unknown diaries, journals, letters, and other documents that are in private hands, the Library of Virginia will lead a major initiative to identify, catalog, and preserve those documents through digitization and web access. Locating and uncovering this material will provide a boon to Civil War research for years to come. Signature events: Signature events begin in 2009 with a conference on the coming of the Civil War at the University of Richmond, and a joint commemorative event with the State of West Virginia, planned in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. High profile events are planned for the duration of the commemoration to mark important milestones, such as a national event at Manassas in 2011 to mark the 150th anniversary of the first land battle of the war and to set the tone for the sesquicentennial. I would like to commend the leadership role that the Commonwealth has taken and recognize the work of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and urge others to join with them to participate in this commemorating this special occasion. ____________________