Evening star., 1941-12-14
Virginians
Proud of
Shrines
Historic Places
Recall Birth
Of Freedom

1t Is a source OF prlde 10 Vlr-
einians that in the present world
wide struggle between the ideoiogies
of democracy and dictatorship,
many of the fundamental principles
of democracy were formulated by
native sons of the Mother State.
Because of this fact, the homes of
great Virginians of years gone by
have become historic shrines. Care
fully preserved throughout the years
by loving and appreciative hands,
these buildings are the travel OBJ
jectives annually of thousands who
come to pay homage to these sons
of the past and to gain new in
spiration for the American way OF
life.
The Nation was born in Virginia
on May l3. 1907 when courageous
band of Englishmen, having been
tossed hither and yon on a rough
and stormy sea, dropped anchor at
Jamestown and established the first
permanent English settlement in
America. Here. too, in 1919, was set
up the first representative assembly
in the new world-the beginning OF
our system of representative gov
ernment. Thus, the Virginia LeglS-
lature, which met first at James
town and later at Williamsburg, and
which meets now at Richmond,
holds the distinction of being the
oldest legislative assembly IN the
Western Hemisphere.
Climax Of Revolution
Came Within State.
Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion against
the royal governor at Jamestown
in 1876 might we'll be called the
opening gun in the long struggle for
American independence Patrick
Henry and a host of other Vir-
ginians used the pen, the tongue
and the sword in this fight, which
terminated at Yorktown, where the
English finally capitulated, thus as
suring the Colonies of their inde-
pendence.
George Mason penned our Bill of
Rights, guaranteeing freedom of
speech, freedom of press, freedom of
religion and freedom of assembly
Virginia, in ratifying the new Con-
stitution of the United States, urged
that the Bill of Rights be added and
the principles of this document were
carried into the Constitution as the
first 10 amendments.
George Washington commanded
the American forces in their fight
for independence, and as Presi-
dent piloted the new Nation through
her first years. Thomas Jefferson
authored the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and served as President
during the formative years of the
new republic. James Madison in
spired the American Constitution
and served the young Nation as
President. When James Monroe was
in the presidential chair he gave us
the Monroe Doctrine, which is to-
day playing an increasingly impor-
tant role in our foreign policy. The
soul of Woodrow Wilson burned
with a passionate desire to extend
the fruits of our successful democ-
racy to larger fields.
Thus jamestown, the beginning, is
today a shrine visited by thousands
annually The old church and quiet
graveyard, the monuments, the
archaeological work and museum
engage the interest Of many.
Williamsburg Becoming
More Colonial Daily.
Williamsburg, second capital OF
Virginia, is regarded as the most
remarkable historical restoration IN
the world. Basically completed a
decade or so ago. the restoration
work continues. Each year finds
Williamsburg moving nearer to its
appearance in Colonial days, when
it was ruled by the British crown.
Yorktown, surrender ground OF
the American Revolution, has re-
stored Notifications, museum. the
first customs house. the Moore
house, where the terms of surrender
were drawn, and other historic
buildings. all of which prove in
tensely interesting to students OF
early American history.
George Washington's Mount Ver-
non, situated on a beautiful site
overlooking the Potomac River, is
preserved today much as Washing
ton left it. 1t is one of the most
popular of all the historic shrines
in America. The George Washing
ton birthplace national monument
in Westmoreland County, the re-
constructed birthplace of the first
Yran;lank o1rarln0Ec the Pn.