A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-21-04....Virginia, the "Old Dominion State"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine,

We're
"On the Road Again"...

Please join "A Few of FR's Finest" as we make a cyber-visit to another state in this great Union of ours.

Over the past several months each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state for the Finest Thread. The remaining states are being presented, about one a month, in random order. We hope you are enjoying these visits to our beautiful United States. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would appreciate your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states
we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia

10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan 11-04-03 South Dakota 11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming 04-13-04 Mississippi 04-27-04 Missouri 05-25-04 Indiana

Today we are visiting Virginia, the "Old Dominion State", and we salute the Fine FReepers who call Virginia home. Thank you all for making FreeRepublic the best conservative forum on the internet.

Named for England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I,
Virginia entered into the Union on June 25, 1788,
the 10th of the original 13 colonies.

On April 17, 1861 Virginia would secede from
the Union and Richmond would be named
as the Capital of The Confederate States.






"The story of Virginia is the story of us all. It is the story of rich and poor, farmers and industrialists, men and women, black and white. It is the story of successive struggles for freedom and equality that both foreshadow and mirror the story of America. It is the story of individuals who through the centuries forged new identities through compromise and conflict."....excerpt from a book review of "The Story of Virginia", By James C. Kelly.

A condensed timeline of
Virginia's rich history...

1607—The first permanent settlement is established at Jamestown...

The Story of
John Smith and Pocahontas

The Jamestown colonists decided that only one man had enough leadership or experience to lead them. That man was John Smith. Smith took responsibility for exploring the surrounding environs, traveling up several of the region’s many rivers. He prepared a remarkably accurate map, based on his excursions. Smith also became the chief contact with the neighboring Native Americans, Algonkian-speaking members of the Powhatan Confederacy. In December 1607, Smith was abducted by tribal members. According to one of Smith’s accounts, he was rescued from execution by the pleas of the chief’s daughter, Pocahontas. Later authorities have speculated that Smith simply misinterpreted an Indian adoption ritual.

Pocahontas ("playful one"), maintained friendly relations with the Jamestown settlers, bringing them food and warning them of an impending attack by her father’s warriors. In 1613, an English official attempted to retrieve settlers imprisoned by Powhatan by luring Pocahontas aboard a ship and holding her hostage. Although she was reputedly the chief’s favorite daughter, he refused to exchange prisoners. Pocahontas remained in captivity, was converted to Christianity, took the name Rebecca and in 1614, with her father’s consent, married colonist John Rolfe. This marriage ushered in an eight-year period of improved relations between the Indians and the colonists.

Officials of the Virginia Company seized upon the Pocahontas story and devised an early form of a public relations campaign. The Rolfes, their infant son and several other natives were taken to England as guests of the company. Pocahontas was a sensation in English social circles. The Virginia Company hoped that interest in their colony would be enhanced by their proof that Indians could be "civilized."

Pocahontas died in 1617 at the age of 22 while preparing to return to Virginia and is buried at Gravesend. Her son Thomas Rolfe was educated in England, but later went to Virginia where he enjoyed great business success and was the forebear of many of the colony's most distinguished families.

1619—Establishment of the House of Burgesses.

1624—Virginia Becomes a Royal Colony (Virginia Company charter revoked).

1674—The Bacon rebellion fights for colonial rights in Western Virginia.

1693—The College of William and Mary founded at Williamsburg.

1698—October 31, A fire destroys Jamestown, the seat of government is moved to Williamsburg (in 1699).

The Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

In March 1775, Patrick Henry urged his fellow Virginians to arm in self-defense, closing his appeal (uttered at St. John's Church in Richmond, where the legislature was meeting) with the immortal words: "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

Click here to listen to
Patrick Henry's Famous Speech
(performed by Richard Schuman as the character
of Patrick Henry for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.)

1776—Virginia adopts its first constitution and declares independence.

1788—Virginia becomes the 10th state.

1831—Nat Turner leads a slave revolt.

The Civil War in Virginia

Richmond was capital of the Confederate States of America from May 1861 until April 1865 - only one hundred miles or so separated the two warring capitols, and thousands died fighting at places no one had heard of before, places like Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Spotsylvania, Brandy Station and the North Anna River. More fell during encounters at places that had no name.

"First Manassas" is remembered as the first major land battle of the Civil War, won by inexperienced Confederates who routed an equally raw Union force. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson became "Stonewall" for his role in the fighting. The second battle at Manassas, the battle of Bull Run, also a dramatic Confederate victory, was much bloodier. More than 3,000 soldiers were killed during the battle.

Richmond Falls.....

"Through the winter and early spring of 1865, while Union armies ranged at will across the South, Richmond still glittered with the hard defiance of a city long at war. But this last flicker of resolve only made the city's fall all the more devastating. On the night of April 2, faced with the inevitability of northern victory, Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled, leaving Richmond to its fate—fire, capture, and the end of hope for a southern nation."....excerpt from a book review of "Richmond Burning", By Nelson Lankford.

1870—Virginia re-enters the United States with Richmond as her capital.

Famous Virginians

Virginia has supplied more presidents to the United States than any other state. The following were born in The Old Dominion.....

* George Washington
* Thomas Jefferson *
* James Madison *
* James Monroe *
* William Henry Harrison *
* John Tyler *
* Zachary Taylor *
* Woodrow Wilson *

More Fine Virginians...

Richard Arlen actor, Charlottesville
Arthur Ashe tennis player, Richmond
Pearl Bailey singer, Newport News
Warren Beatty actor, Richmond
Richard E. Byrd polar explorer, Winchester
Roy Clark country music artist, Meaherrin
William Clark explorer, Caroline Cty
Henry Clay statesman, Hanover Cty
Joseph Cotten actor, Petersburg
Ella Fitzgerald jazz singer, Newport News
Patrick Henry statesman, Hanover Cty
Sam Houston political leader, Rockbridge Cty
Robert E. Lee Confederate general, Stratford
Meriwether Lewis explorer, Ambemarle Cty
Shirley MacLaine actress, Richmond
John Marshall jurist, Germantown
Cyrus Hall McCormick inventor, Rockbridge Cty
Opechancanough Powhatan leader
John Payne actor, Roanoke
Walter Reed army surgeon, Gloucester Cty
Matthew Ridgway Army Chief of Staff, Fort Monroe
Bill Bojangles Robinson dancer, Richmond
George C. Scott actor, Wise
Sam Snead golfer, Hot Springs
James Jeb Stuart Confederate army officer, Patrick Cty
Thomas Sumter General, Hanover Cty
Nat Turner leader of slave uprising, Southhampton Cty
Booker T. Washington educator, Franklin Cty

July in Virginia means it's that time again for some of the most popular festivals known around the world.

And with the unveiling of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia presents 17 historic sites to honor "The Greatest Generation" on the World War II Heritage Trail.

After having visited this state on my recent vacation, I can attest to the fact that Virginia is a perfect vacation destination!

Click on the region you plan to visit, and be
sure to allow LOTS of time and wear comfortable shoes:

Shenandoah Valley | Eastern Shore | Central Virginia
Northern Virginia | Heart of Appalachia
Blue Ridge Highlands | Chesapeake Bay | Hampton Roads


And while you are visiting Virginia,
keep your eye out for their state symbols...

The following websites provided
graphics, information and text...

Virginia is for Lovers
50 States.com
Virginia - America's Story
The Civil War Traveler - Virginia

Have a Fine Wednesday!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-19-04 Military Monday 07-20-04 Fly Me To The Moon

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[ST.LOUIE1]

Awwwwwwww........thanks, sweet wolfie. I needed that hug this morning.

Here's your evening hug. ((((((( fuzzy )))))))

: )

[lonestar]

Please add me to your Rusty ping list. I have been looking for updates on the arrival of your new family addition. He is sure a good looking dog...

WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!???????

Weinie

[LadyX]

Found a site with a bicyclist's account of his travel through Virginia, going along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Here are some highlights:

I rode only about 20 miles after crossing into Virginia on April 19, settling in for the night at the first hotel to offer itself up. I had hoped to get further, but decided it would be a good idea to build a little more strength before putting in hard miles. Also I figured I'd have all of flat Kansas to make up for early short days. (Over the following couple of weeks I came to rely a lot on Kansas.) I was in Virginia for 9 more days. I rode back roads southwest to Charlottesville, where I joined the Transamerica Trail. From Charlottesville I continued south-southwest down Virginia's mountainous spine, in and out of the Blue Ridge and Shenandoahs, down to a point near the southwestern tip of the state. On April 28th I arrived at Breaks Interstate Park on the Virginia/Kentucky border, and after a rest day there (my last off day until Jackson, Wyoming), I rode into Kentucky.

Virginia was lovely, with many scenic, lightly traveled roads, varied terrain, and plenty of historical sites. It's the only state on the Transamerica Trail still to maintain the Trail's route signs, so despite the winding roads and frequent route changes, navigation was pretty easy. But. Virginia had its bleak side too -- I rode through towns that hadn't prospered since the 1960s, and parts of southwestern Virginia foreshadowed the poverty that I would encounter a few days later in Appalachian Kentucky.

I didn't camp at all in Virginia; the weather was dreary and I hadn't quite achieved the Spartan mindset of the unsupported long-distance cyclist. Indeed I wound up in a couple of pretty plush bed & breakfasts, so that after only week I was way over budget. I guess I figured I'd make up for that in Kansas too, by sleeping in a thresher or something.

You can't settle into a bike tour until you have shed the automotive mentality -- until you've recalibrated your brain to bicycle scale. For instance, 65 or 85 miles is a good day for a cyclist but it isn't very far if you're used to driving. Similarly, rural residents travel 30 or 40 miles between towns without a second thought, but the cyclist prefers to believe that such distances separate two very different places.

These sorts of adjustments are elusive when you haven't got very far from home and are spending nights in places to which you routinely drive for dinner, and my route down to the southwest corner of Virginia -- as far west as Detroit! -- compounded the problem.

I was in the state for a long time, and even though after a few days I had started to make good distance, phone calls home took on a familiar and vaguely discouraging pattern: "I rode 65 miles today and passed Roanoke, but, um, I'm still in Virginia."

You can see Virginia from Washington, D.C.; though I'd been riding away from home for a week I wasn't sure I was getting anywhere!

~ The Blue Ridge Parkway ~

The ride out of Charlottesville featured a segment on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a winding picturesque two lane road that runs 469 miles from Virginia to southern North Carolina, along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

During summer and fall this popular park is thick with cars, meaning that despite the (enforced) 45 mph speed limit, biking it requires attentiveness and care. But I was early and I saw perhaps 25 cars in 25 miles. I rode virtually alone, in dead delightful silence.

~ Natural Bridge ~

=======================================

I've driven the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, going there many times when I lived in North Carolina, and up into Pennsylvania from there on my way to Rochester.

It is glorious in the summer and autumn --- loved to take neighborhood groups on picnics, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs and chilling watermelons in little streams beside the park's campsites - - assorted children (and adults!) wading in the stream, catching tiny minnows - - brief naps on blankets in the shade - frisbee contests on the grassy fields - etc.

Wonderful memories of another life - -

[Gabz]

One of the "Ghost Tours" of Charleston is someting I've wanted to do for YEARS!!!!!!!!

[Mama_Bear]

Here's your evening hug.

You are spoiling me. LOL, but I know you just can't resist this face. ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

What a wonderful experience that would be, bicycling through Virginia! Except I can't imagine anyone being able to bicycle up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains! Thanks for posting this.

We took almost every turnout along Skyline Drive and stopped to look at the view. Took us all day to go just down Skyline Drive, would have taken us days at that rate to have continued on down the entire mountain range. The top speed limit is 35 miles an hour. We kept an eye out for the bear that we had been told roamed the mountains, but didn't see any. Many deer grazing along side of the road though. I am so glad that AAA recommended the side trip to Shenandoah National Park while we were on our way from DC to NC.

I have heard that autumn is the best time of year to Drive through Shenandoah Park. I found this on Google...

Virginia - Shenandoah National Park, Hawksbill Mountain dressed for autumn

[Dubya]

Almost 150 years ago, President Lincoln found it necessary to hire a private investigator, Alan Pinkerton, for protection. That was the beginning of the Secret Service .

Since that time, federal police authority has grown to a large number of multi-letter agencies - FBI , CIA , INS , IRS , DEA , ATF , etc.

Now comes the Federal Air Transportation Airport Security Service . Can't you see them now? These highly trained men and women in their black outfits with initials in large white letters across their backs?
F. A. T. A. S. S. - - - - - - - I feel safer already.

[Mama_Bear]

"During summer and fall this popular park is thick with cars, meaning that despite the (enforced) 45 mph speed limit, biking it requires attentiveness and care."

We didn't encounter much traffic when we were there, but I think we were north of where he was cycling. We were heading south and got off the mountain range at Charlottesville. It sounds as though that's where he got on the range for his trip south.

As always, thank you for your contributions. Love you, Maggie!

[Mama_Bear]

One of the "Ghost Tours" of Charleston is someting I've wanted to do for YEARS!!!!!!!!

Doesn't it sound interesting? They do the same thing at Colonial Williamsburg, but we missed that too. Just too tired at the end of the day. I just could not walk one more block for love nor money. LOL. I don't hold up like I used to. :-(

[Gabz]

God Bless and Keep them all..........

[Gabz]

One of these days we will get to do the Blue Ridge.........

[Mama_Bear]

WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!???????

You haven't heard? This is a touching true life story about some very special people and a very lucky dog. Mr. and Mrs. D are taking an abandoned dog into their heart and home. He is being flown to them from California next Monday!

Here is the "Rusty" thread. There are photos at the beginning of the thread. Dutchess is asking for prayers that he arrives safely and isn't too stressed from the trip.

Maybe some of your friends at rainbow bridge can oversee his safe arrival to his new family? :-)

((((((((Weinie)))))))))

[Gabz]

Williamsburg is a beautiful town.......but I have had an aversion to it for many years....it was where I went on my honeymoon......of my first marriage. My aversion is over and I do want to go back - the wallet just doesn't permit it at the moment.

[dutchess]

Lori. Hey...the computer is doing well so far.

Didn't realize our "adoption" was reaching such proportions. Yes Weinie...we're adopting a new "earth angel"...he comes to us next Monday. Too cute...originally we were going to get him this week...my parents who think we should never have another dog besides Giz had welcome stuff already set up...are bummed they have to wait another two weeks to meet Rusty. Don't you love it!

[Mama_Bear]

...originally we were going to get him this week...my parents who think we should never have another dog besides Giz had welcome stuff already set up...

Awwwwwww.....that's so cute. Bless you, Sis, for your loving heart. :-)

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have no more problems with your computer. I know how frustrating and stressful it is when you have thread you need to post. I'm here for you if you need me to post it tomorrow.

HUGS!

[Mama_Bear]

Now comes the Federal Air Transportation Airport Security Service . Can't you see them now? These highly trained men and women in their black outfits with initials in large white letters across their backs? F. A. T. A. S. S. - - - - - - - I feel safer already.

LOL!!

Hello, Dubya. Nice to see you here today. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Wonderful memories of another life - -

Yes, and you have such a gift for taking us to another place and time. You have no idea how often I just sit at my computer and smile over something you have written.

Take care, Finest Maggie. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you all - new friends, old friends, proud Virginians and Finest regulars, for spending some of your day with us.

It's been fun visiting Virginia and, Gabz, you may not have intended it, but you served as a wonderful "co-hostess" for our thread today. Thank you so much. You will be hearing from me when it comes time to profile Delaware. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for the hugs and smiles, and just for being *you*. :-)

[LadyX]

Circling the field one more time before heading for bed, and found your post, Lori.

In truth, I have been abundantly and richly blessed by God in having Him send me hither and yon, appreciating His creations all the way ---

Never hesitated to leave a place, or 'fear' the next one, knowing He was unfolding His Plan for my life and preparing me for "something else."

Thank you for what you said, and for letting me share those sights and experiences with you again and again, never complaining because you've heard most of them before..:))

Mama_Bear is an Angel Bear!!

~ ~ Good Night to The Finest ~ ~