Update on the Stonewall Documentary

Click Here. The film is being produced by Ken Carpenter of Franklin Springs Family Media:

"Carpenter’s previous production work has served clients such as Michael W. Smith, Max Lucado, Steven Curtis Chapman, PaxTV, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, The Gideons, Compassion International, and many other leading names in Christian media."

I will be traveling to the great state of Tennessee some time later this summer to consult on the final edit. A release date in early October is planned.

Independence Day at VMI

Once again, my family and I headed south to historic Lexington, Virginia on July 4^th for the community holiday celebration on the Virginia Military Institute parade grounds. This is always a great family event complete with vendors selling everything from herbal tea to hot dogs, bluegrass music, carousel rides, hot-air balloons and, of course, fireworks. The firework show behind the VMI barracks with the United States and Virginia flag waving in the foreground is always an inspiring sight. It was here that the immortal Stonewall Jackson, at first a staunch Unionist, decided to cast his lot with his native Commonwealth of Virginia and fight for the Confederacy. It is here that he continues to be honored.

Our SCV Camp also had a recruiting booth set up at the event and I signed a few books for folks. There is no fee to get in and if you are ever in the area on the 4^th, I highly recommend this great patriotic event for the whole family.

Summer in the Shenandoah

Looking southeast near Middlebrook, Virginia.

Patriotic Movie Recommendations for July 4th

Click Here.

Richard Henry Lee - Father of Our Independence

"In three months as delegate, Richard Henry served on 18 different committees - none as important as his appointment to frame the Declaration of Rights of the Colonies, which led directly to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry was accorded the well-deserved honor of introducing the bill before Congress:

...That these united Colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance from the British crown, and than all political connection between America and State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved...

The bill was adopted on July 2 - the formal act that dissolved the ties with England. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was ratified - the American Revolution became a reality."

From: B. J. Lossing, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, George F. Cooledge & Brother: New York (1848) [reprinted in Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, WallBuilder Press: Aledo, Texas (1995)], page 173:

"Mr. Lee was a sincere practical Christian, a kind and affectionate husband and parent, a generous neighbor, a constant friend, and in all the relations of life, he maintained a character above reproach. "His hospitable door," says Sanderson, "was open to all; the poor and the destitute frequented it for relief, and consolation; the young for instruction; the old for happiness; while a numerous family of children, the offspring of two marriages, clustered around and clung to each other in fond affection, imbibing and delighted by the amiable serenity and captivating graces of his conversation. He necessities of his country occasioned frequent absence; but every return to his home was celebrated by the people as a festival; for he was their physician, their counsellor, and the arbiter of their differences. The medicines which he impoprted wwere carefully and judiciously dispensed; and the equity of his decision was never controverted by a court of law."

From: Robert G. Ferris (editor), Signers of the Declaration: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service: Washington, D.C. (revised edition 1975), page 92-94:

"Richard Henry Lee, brilliant orator and fiery Revolutionary leader, introduced the independence resolution in the Continental Congress, served for awhile as its President, and later became a U.S. Senator. Fearing undue centralization of power, he fought against the Constitution and led the campaign that brought inclusion of the Bill of Rights. Throughout his life, he strenuously opposed the institution of slavery. He and Francis Lightfoot Lee were the only brothers among the signers..."

In 1789 Lee entered the U.S. Senate, but because of failing health resigned in 1792, the year after the Bill of Rights was incorporated into the Constitution. He died in 1794, aged 62, at Chantilly. His grave is in the Lee family cemetery near Hague, Virginia."

"Robert [Lee] was born at the Lee ancestral mansion, Stratford Hall, and drew his first breath in the same room in which were born two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee." (The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen, page 61.)

RICHARD HENRY LEE WAS THE GREAT-UNCLE OF ROBERT E. LEE. THE YEAR OF LEE CONTINUES.

The Wharf - Staunton, Virginia

It appears that I’ll be moving my professional office to the historic Wharf District of Staunton, Virginia. I’ve long had my eye on relocating there and finally found a space that will work well. Staunton, in my opinion, ranks second only to Lexington in cities in the Shenandoah Valley that have been extremely successful in preserving their 19^th century architecture and flavor. The Wharf area got its name due to the warehouse style buildings that occupy several blocks of old Staunton. Though no navigable water is nearby, the railroad is and these old structures once served for offloading and storage during the 19^th and early 20^th century. Today, most of the buildings have been renovated and are now being used for office space, retail, and restaurants. It is a beautiful and charming area and well worth visiting. I will be very close to some great restaurants as well: The Pullman and the Depot Grille. Also, in the Wharf district is the historic American Hotel which has just been renovated and is currently occupied by various businesses. I'll also be just around the corner from the historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center.

“The present railroad station is the third one on this site. The first station was destroyed by General Hunter's troops in June of 1864. A runaway train at the turn-of-the-century destroyed the second station. Most of the warehouses and factories that were burned by Hunter's troops were in this neighborhood. One of the surviving pre-Civil War era buildings in this area is the former American Hotel , built by the Virginia Central Railroad shortly after the railroad came to Staunton in 1854. Once one of the finest hotels in Staunton, notable guests included the reconstruction-era Governor of Virginia, Francis Pierpont, in July of 1866, and the former Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard in 1874. In June of 1874, U.S. President and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant were serenaded by The Stonewall Brigade Band from the now-missing front portico of this hotel when their train passed through Staunton.” (The front portico was restored during the recent renovation.)