My Virginia

The Virginia flaggers have been on the streets in front of the VMFA (The Virginia Museum of Fine Ahem... ) for over 5 years now.  Initially, their  goal was to restore some battle flags that were removed from the premises of the Confederate Memorial Chapel. In the process, they have also been able to save and restore history to honor our brave Confederate ancestors. It all started with the removal of the Confederate Battle flags from the Confederate Memorial Chapel.  Built in 1887, the the chapel was used  to honor Confederate veterans and  sits within the confines of the museum's property. Not long ago, a hasty decision  was made to remove the flags from plain view. Instead , they placed a very ugly and unsightly flag pole on  the property, (containing the American and Virginia flag) ,  obfuscating  the historical accuracy of the chapel and its grounds. Not only was this move a slap in the face to our heritage, it was also illegal! ...

Years ago, I remember getting annoyed as a teenager when some dolt on "The Weather Channel" would refer to Virginia as part of the Mid-Atlantic region. Boy, was  I in for a surprise. Forget Mid Atlantic. Now we're considered the part of that frozen tundra called  "The Northeast".  Has the North moved South? Yes and No. But I think I don't really mind being called Mid Atlantic now. In fact I would long for it. Please call us Mid Atlantic or South Atlantic, East Coast,  or a border state. Anything but the Northeast!  If North Carolina is often referred to as "The Mind of the South", then Virginia is just above it. We are north of North Carolina,  and just below the Mason Dixon line. And we straddle the fence on what was once known as the "Upper South". But I don't think we are the Northeast. That is something I don't understand. How is Virginia the Northeast? Not by culture, certainly not by history, and no , not even geographically...

Doing family research is a lot of fun. Ancestry can turn up so many hidden gems and interesting stories throughout the years. These two historic  houses belonged to my ancestors on my  maternal Great Grandfather's side of the family.  His name was John Gifford Skelton III.   These two homes are located relatively in the same region, although in different counties. Both west of Richmond. Most of the people on this branch of the family settled just west of Richmond, Virginia, and came to Richmond just after the War Between the States. This first dwelling shown here is Paxton . I have covered Paxton before, but these earlier photos  show how  the farmhouse looked before it was painted white. Paxton was built by my great great great great Grandfather Ennion Skelton- a New Jersey born physician who migrated South to Virginia in 1800,  to join his friends  and relatives. He wanted a  large farmhouse in Powhatan County, and he began work on Paxton...

Nestled at the very Southern end of what is called "Northern Virginia"- a region known for its suburban strip malls, rows of houses that all look the same, and disgruntled governmental employees, lies the small city of Fredericksburg. This town with its rich history in both the War Between The States as well as the  American Revolution, is a hidden gem for tourists.  While it boasts Mary Washington college, historic sites and connections to George Washington, many weary 1-95 travelers use Fredericksburg as a stop over between New York and Florida. In years past, Fredericksburg was largely disconnected from the bustle of the Northern Virginia region. In more recent years , however, it has  become a bedroom community for Washington D.C. commuters. With its advantageous geographic location,  many people working in Washington  choose to live in the Fredericksburg area  to get more affordable  housing outside the expensive suburbs. Some may even ref...

It is with great grief and sadness in my heart that I write this. The Lee Chapel at Washington And Lee University, has remained true to its identity as til of late. However, most recently, The Confederate battle flags which hung (not predominantly I might add), in the back the chapel, have been abruptly removed. They were replica flags, but have been in tact there for many years. Because of a few students who protested (now graduating and moving on from the college), the flags were removed without question from Faculty and Staff. The Sons of Confederate Veterans held a protest this past weekend. The cowardly staff of Washington and Lee made a Facebook post that would close their chapel in that light- afraid of the actions to be taken from the protestors. This, of course, had nothing to do with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. As far as many know, no violent threats were made. All correspondence to the faculty and staff was about the dismay of many that the battle flags were removed th...

Many people believe Lyme Disease is something you only can get in New England. But the truth is, Lyme Disease  is more profound in places like Virginia and The Carolinas  than anywhere else in the country. That being said, you can get Lyme Disease in all 50 states. But according to recent research, nearly 100% of Virginia ticks are infected with Lyme Disease. The most common tick in Virginia is the lone star tick- and most Lyme cases arise from that tick alone. When out walking, its imperative to wear protective clothing, and light colored clothing so ticks and easily be spotted and removed. Most of the ticks are found in wooded areas, but even along the shore line. More than half of people who develop Lyme Disease never even find their tick, let alone the characteristic rounded rash that comes along with it. The rash, either preceded or followed by flu like symptoms, is the classic case of Lyme Disease. However, not everyone reports the rash, or gets all of the flu like...

Today, January 19th, would mark the 207th birthday for Robert E. Lee. A terrific military leader, patriot, and scholar.  He was born at Stratford Hall in Westermoreland County, Virginia, on January 19th, 1807. Continuing in the military tradition of his father, Lee entered West Point in 1825 and graduated second in his class in 1829. He was an outstanding student and one of the top ranks of his class. When it came for the arguments for Southern Independence, Lee was not in favor of succession immediately, but he decided he could not take arms against his people and his homeland of Virginia. On April 18, 1861 Lee was offered field command of the United States Army. On the following day, he received word that Virginia had seceded from the Union; he submitted his letter of resignation from the United States Army on April 20. Three days later, Lee accepted the position of commander of Virginia forces. His decision to defend Virginia was legendary, and since then, Lee  h...