Memorials and monuments; protection of all memorials, etc. (HB587)

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.

15.2-1812 WHICH REGARDS MEMORIALS FOR WAR VETERANS FOR VIRGINIA WAR VETERANS. THE CODE SECTION ESTABLISHES FOR LOCALITIES IN THE STATE TO ERECT WAR MEMORIALS AND THE VARIOUS WARS THAT ARE LISTED WITHIN SECTION A OF THAT STATUTE. AND THEN IN SECTION OBJECTION B IT ALSO HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A LOCALITY ONCE THOSE WAR MEMORIALS ARE ERECTED TO INTERFERE WITH THOSE MONUMENTS OR DISTURB OR INTERFERE WITH IN THE SENSE OF CHANGETH, DEFACING OR REMOVING. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS CLARIFY THAT THAT PROVISION SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO ALL SUCH MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE STATUTE CAME INTO PLAY YEARS THEY WERE BUILT. AGO AND COURTS INTERPRETED THIS TO BE PROSPECTIVE, NOT APPLYING TO THOSE BUILT PREVIOUS TO THE STATUTE BEING CREATED IN THE CODE. FOR THOSE REASONS, MR. PRESIDENT, I RENEW MY MOTION THAT HOUSE BILL 587 PASS. THE SENATOR FROM ROANOKE CITY, SENATOR EDWARDS. MR. PRESIDENT, SPEAKING AGAINST THE BILL. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. HOUSE BILL 587. I REALLY THOUGHT THE CIVIL WAR WAS OVER BUT I GUESS THIS IS VIRGINIA. AND I HATE TO SEE US RELITIGATE THESE ISSUES. MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS CURRENTLY A PENDING ON APPEAL DECISION OUT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF DANVILLE REGARDING DANVILLE CITY COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO REMOVING I BELIEVE IT A CONFEDERATE FLAG. AND THAT IS ON APPEAL. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT PURPORTS TO BASICALLY GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE LITIGATION AND REWRITE THAT THE JUDGE RULED WAS PROSPECTIVE AND WOULD ONLY APPLY TO MONUMENTS AND THE LIKE AND MEMORIALS AND SO FORTH ERECTED AFTER 1998. AND THIS WOULD SAY WELL, NO, ANYTHING ERECTED BEFORE 1998 WOULD ALSO APPLY. IT IN EFFECT WOULD PURPORT TO OVERTURN THE CIRCUIT COURT DECISION. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CIRCUIT COURT IN THE CITY OF DANVILLE CASE. WE NORMALLY DON'T GET INVOLVED IN LITIGATION THAT IS ONGOING. IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE BILL. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BILL GETTING IN THE PROBLEM OF ONGOING LITIGATION. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STAYS OUT OF IT UNTIL THE LITIGATION IS OVER. THE SECOND REASON WHY THIS IS A BAD BILL, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT THERE ARE LOCALITIES MIGHT HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR WANTING TO REMOVE OR CHANGE A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS. POLITICAL REASONS, SOCIAL REASONS, ECONOMIC, URBAN RENEWAL. URBAN REVITALIZATION. TAKE IT DOWN, MAYBE MOVE THEM SOME PLACE ELS E OR MAYBE NOT PUT THEM UP AT ALL AND THE LOCALITY SHOULD HAVE THAT AUTHORITY IF THEY WANT TO. WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COMMONWEALTH SAYING ANY MEMORIALS THAT FIT INTO CERTAIN CATEGORIES AND MONUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP BEFORE 1998 YOU GOT TO KEEP THEM UP INTO PERPETUITY AND I THINK THAT IS BAD PUBLIC POLICY AS A MATTER OF JUST A GENERAL PRINCIPLE. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD HOPE THIS BODY WOULD REJECT THIS BILL. THE SENATOR FROM ALEXANDER, SENATOR EBBIN. WOULD THE SENATOR FROM FRANKLIN YIELD FOR A QUESTION? WOULD THE SENATOR FROM FRANKLIN YIELD FOR A QUESTION. I YIELD. HE YIELDS SENATOR. I WOULD ASK IF HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE FORLORN AND BEAUTIFUL MONUMENT TO THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER THAT FACES SOUTH TO WASHINGTON STREET ONE OF OUR MAIN THOROUGH FARES. THE SENATOR FROM FRANKLIN. I ANSWER BY SAYING NOT SPECIFICALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE MONUMENT THAT HE SPEAKS OF ALTHOUGH I VISIT THE THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF ALEXANDER ANDT I HAVE SINCE BEEN REFORMED AND LIVE IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA SO I HAVE NOT SEEN THE MONUMENT. THE SENATOR FROM ALEXANDRIA. SPEAKING BRIEFLY. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. I INVITE THE GENTLEMAN TO COME BACK TO OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS MONUMENT IN THE CENTER OF WASHINGTON STREET A MAIN THOROUGHFARE HAS BEEN HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS THREATENING THE WHEN IT WAS LAST HIT IT WAS MONUMENT. REPAIRED, BUT UNDER THE BILL, WHERE IT SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T DISTURB OR INTERFERE WITH SUCH MONUMENTS OR MEMORIALS IT WOULD NOT LET THE CITY MOVE IT TO ANOTHER PROMINENT PLACE PERHAPS IN FRONT OF THE CITY MUSEUM ALSO ON WASHINGTON STREET. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NEEDED AND YOU KNOW, OUR LOCALITY SHOULD BE DETERMINED IF THE MONUMENT NEEDS TO BE MOVED FOR SAFETY OR OTHER REASONS. I WILL VOTE AGAINST THE BILL. SENATOR GARRETT. RISE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE BILL IS ABOUT. FUNNY TO TALK ABOUT AUTOMOBILES RUNNING IN MONUMENTS AND LOCALITIES NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE MONUMENTS THAT ARE APPARENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND FREELY HIT. AND I AM AMUSED BY THE SENATOR FROM ROANOKE'S CHARACTERIZATION THAT A LOCALITY MIGHT HAVE GOOD CAUSE TO MOVE A MONUMENT CONSTRUCTED BEFORE 1998 BUT THEN PRESUME THAT THE LOCALITY MIGHT NOT HAVE GOOD CAUSE TO REMOVE A MONUMENT CONSTRUCTED AFTER 1998. WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS ABOUT HISTORY. IT IS ABOUT HERITAGE. IT IS ABOUT CONFLICT. AND CULTURE. AND KNOWLEDGE. AND AWARENESS. AND LEGACY. I MEAN IF YOU POLLED THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, MR. PRESIDENT, AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE PROUD OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR OR THE ISSUES WHETHER STATES RIGHTS ISSUES OR SLAVERY THAT LED TO THAT CONFLICT YOU WOULD GET A 40-0 ROE SOUNDING UNANIMOUS CONCURRENCE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DARK AND REGRETTABLE EPISODES IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, MR. PRESIDENT? SHALL ERASE IT FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS? SHOULD WE PRETEND THAT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN GREAT AMERICANS AND FOUNDERS OF THIS NATION DIDN'T ENGAGE IN THE HORRIFIC AND DARK INSTITUTION OF SLAVE OWNERSHIP? ERASE FROM THE ANNALS OF HISTORY THE LEGACY OF PEOPLE LIKE JEFFERSON AND WASHINGTON BECAUSE THEY DID PARTICIPATE? OR SHOULD IT JUST BE JACKSON AND LEE AND STEWART? ARE THOSE THE PEOPLE WE ERAISE WHILE LEAVING THE OTHERS? ATTEMPT TO ENSURE THAT WE RETAIN OUR LEGACY AND CULTURE AND HISTORY BOTH GOOD AND BAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE BECAUSE A WISER MAN THAN ME, MR. PRESIDENT, SAID ONE DAY THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN HISTORY ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT. AND SO, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I RESPECT GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE. THAT I RESPECT THOMAS JOHNATHAN JACKSON. THAT I RESPECT JON SINGLETON MOSBY. AND I RESPECT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND BARBARA JOHNS AND GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER. IT IS ALL OUR HISTORY IT. ALL OF IT. AND SO THIS BILL ONLY SEEKS TO ALLOW THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, THE POSITIVE AND THE NEGATIVE. TO ELIMINATE THOSE WHO WOULD ATTEMPT TO ERASE HISTORY IN EFFECT CENSROING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OURSELVES AND FROM WHENCE WE CAME. AND I COMMEND THE DELEGATE PATRON OF THIS BILL BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PRESERVE THIS LEGACY FOR POSTERITY SO THAT AMERICA MIGHT BE BETTER BY HAVING LEARNED FROM ALL OF HER HISTORY AND NOT JUST THAT WHICH IS DEEMED POLITICALLY CORRECT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE SENATOR FROM ROANOKE CITY, SENATOR EDWARDS. MR. PRESIDENT, MR. THE SENATOR FROM BUCKINGHAM YIELD FOR A QUESTION. THE SENATOR YIELD FOR A QUESTION? WITH DELIGHT. HE YIELDS, SENATOR. IS THE SENATOR AWARE THAT EXISTING LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN 1998 APPLIES PROSPECTIVELY TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF THOSE MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS ESTABLISHED AFTER 1998 AND THIS GOES BACK AND GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME ANY MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS IN THE PARTICULAR BATTLES OR WARS THAT WERE ENUMERATED APPLIES RETROACTIVELY GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SENATOR FROM BUCKINGHAM? TIME? I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW. ULTIMATELY THE STATUS QUO IS WHAT IT IN QUESTION FROM THE 1998 LAW AND THAT WILL BE PERHAPS DECIDED ELSEWHERE. THIS SIMPLY SAYS WE DON'T VALUE ONE SET OF MONUMENTS OVER ANOTHER BASED ON WHAT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OF THE DAY IT. SENATOR STANLEY. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. IF NO ONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, ONE, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY IN THIS BODY THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT AFFECT ANY CURRENT LITIGATION REGARDING ANYTHING THAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MONUMENT IN DANVILLE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT LITIGATION. SECONDLY, I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY HERE THAT THIS VERY STATUTE SEEKS TO PERMIT LOCALITIES TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN AND THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED AS VIRGINIANS IN SO MANY WARS. THAT THOSE MONUMENTS MANY TIMES WE FIND THEM IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSES, PERTAIN TO THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. THE WAR OF 1812 IT. WORLD WAR I. WORLD WAR II. THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR. KOREAN WAR. VIETNAM WAR. AND MANY TIMES WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, MR. PRESIDENT, IN THESE MONUMENTS IS NOT POLITICAL. IT IS ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS WHO GAVE THEIR LAST AND FULLEST MEASURE OF DEVOTION SO THAT WE COULD REMAIN FREE AND THAT OUR PRINCIPLES WOULD BE THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE WOULD PASS ON TO GENERATIONS THEREAFTER. IT IS THAT SMALL TOKEN OF THAT LOCALITY OF RECOGNIZING THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM THERE THAT WERE MEMORIALIZED IN A PUBLIC SQUARE OR AN AREA SO THAT WE WOULD NEVER FORGET THEM AND NEVER FORGET WHY THEY SERVED AND WHY THEY GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF THEIR LIFE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PRESERVING. AND OF THOSE WARS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS PARTICIPATED IN, MOST OF THOSE HAPPENED BEFORE 1998. THEREFORE, MOST OF THESE MONUMENTS HAVE BEEN ERECTED BELL BEFORE THIS LAW WAS PUT INTO PLACE AND I DARE SAY THAT WHEN THIS LAW WAS PUT INTO PLACE IT WAS NOT FOR ANY CONFLICT THAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER SUCH AS THE IRAQ CONFLICT OR OPERATION DESERT STORM BUT TO PRESERVE THE NAMES THAT SIT SILENTLY ON THOSE VERY WALLS IN THOSE LOCALITIES, REMEMBERING BROTHERS, SISTERS, FATHERS, SONS, MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS WHO ARE NOT WITH US TODAY BUT ALLOW US TO BREATHE THE AIR OF FREEDOM. AND SO FOR THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I RENEW MY MOTION THAT HOUSE BILL 587 PASS. THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM HENRICO, SENATOR McEACHIN. IT WAS MY INTENTION TO REMAIN IN MY SEAT AND JUST VOTE NO UNTIL THE SENATOR MADE THE STATEMENT THAT FOLLOW BEES DIED TO KEEP US FREE. MAYBE IN MOST OF THOSE WARS THEY DID. BUT IN THE CIVIL WAR PEOPLE DIED TO KEEP MY ANCESTORS ENSLAVED. THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM LOUDOUN, SENATOR BLACK. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. SPEAK TO THE MEASURE. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. I HAD NOT INTENDED TO SPEAK BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A RESPONSE TO THE LAST COMMENT. SOMEHOW WE HAVE MORPHED OVER DECADES AND DECADES INTO BELIEVING THAT EVERYBODY TOOK UP AN OLD RIFLE AND WALKED BARE FOOTED HUNDREDS OF MILES TO FIGHT WAS FIGHTING TO DEFEND SOMEBODY ELSE'S SLAVES. I WOULD JUST POINT OUT VERY INTERESTING POINT IN HISTORY ROBERT E. LEE WAS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF ALL CONFEDERATE FORCES DURING THE CIVIL WAR. WHEN HE WAS MARRIED, HE WAS MARRIED TO A WOMAN WHO WAS A SLAVE HOLDER AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HE DID AT THE END OF HIS HONEYMOON WAS TO FREE THE SLAVES BECAUSE ROBERT E. LEE WAS OPPOSED TO SLAVERY. ON THE OTHER HAND, ULYSSES S. GRANT HELD SLAVES THROUGHOUT THE WAR AND AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, THANK YOU, HAD BEEN RENDERED HE STILL HAD SLAVES UNTIL FINALLY ALL OF THE SLAVES WERE FREED. I JUST SAY THIS TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLEXITY TO THAT WAR AND THAT A RELATIVELY SMALL HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WERE SLAVE OWNERS AND I GOT TO TELL YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS -- WHO HAS SERVED IN BATTLE -- YOU DON'T GO AND YOU DON'T FIGHT A BATTLE TO PRESERVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY. AND SO WHILE YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME BUT I WILL TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN THERE, I HAVE DONE THAT, I HAVE BLED ALL OVER THE BATTLEFIELD AND IT WAS NOT FOR ANY RICH GUY. I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT I HAVE TREMENDOUS ADMIRATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WAR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF HEROISM AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE'S PROPERTY IN THAT WAR. THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM BATH COUNTY, SENATOR DEEDS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE NOTION THAT WE CAN'T ERAISEE HISTORY, GOOD OR BAD. WE CAN'T ERASE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. THIS BILL DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH HISTORY. IT HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE, WE IN RICHMOND OR PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE TO MANAGE LOCAL PROPERTY AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS WHETHER THEY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MONUMENTS. THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN SMALLER GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE MAKES THE BEST DECISIONS WILL HAVE AN EASY CHOICE HERE.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE QUESTION IS SHALL HOUSE BILL 587 PASS. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WILLE S AYE, THOSE OPPOSED NO. ARE THE SENATORS READY TO VOTE? HAVE ALL THE SENATORS VOTED? DO ANY SENATORS DESIRE TO CH ANGE THEIR VOTE? THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

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[Unknown]: THE WAR OF 1622 AND INCLUDE ALL OF THE WARS UP THROUGH THE EARLY GULF WARS. MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE BODY, HISTORY IS WHAT IT IS. AND THERE IS GOOD IN IT. THERE IS BAD IN IT. AND THERE IS UGLY IN HISTORY. THAT IS THE WAY THE WORLD WORKED. IT'S ALWAYS WORKED THAT WAY. AND I DO FIND IT INAPPROPRIATE AND UNGRATEFUL TO TEAR DOWN AND REMOVE MONUMENTS IN HONOR OF AMERICAN THAT'S SERVED THE CAUSE OF THEIR TIME. DUE TO CONTINUOUS SHIFT IN POLITICAL WINDS OF TODAY OR IN THE FUTURE. THROUGH HISTORY, ONE HAS TO LOOK IN THE LENS OF THOSE THAT LIVED IT. JUST KNOWING WHAT THEY KNEW NO MORE, NO LESS. THE GOVERNOR'S VERBAGE IN VETOING THE BILL DESCRIBES THIS AS A SWEEPING OVERRIDE OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY. I DISAGREE. CERTAINLY, MONUMENTS ARE IN LOCALITIES. THEY'VE GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE. I ARGUE THESE ARE STATE AS WELL AS AMERICAN, HISTORICAL RESOURCES. AMERICANS COME TO LEARN THE LONG SAGA OF THE COMMONWEALTH. WE'RE OFTEN CALLED THE MOTHER STATE. THEY COME TO VIEW AND LEARN FROM AN AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS. SO IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PROTECT THIS AMERICAN, AND VIRGINIAN RESOURCE. I REMEMBER WHEN CURRENT MAYOR MIKE JONES IS HERE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. HE SAID WE NEED TO BUILD UP, NOT TEAR DOWN. I THINK WE NEED TO ACT THE WORD AND NOT THE WORD BUT. LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON CRIME, DRUGS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND VALUE THE DIFFERENCES AMONG US. A FAMOUS ARCHITECT SAID I STUDY OLD BUILDINGS AND THINGS BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER LEARN FROM THOSE THAT BUILT TODAY'S CIVILIZATION THAN THOSE WHO TORE IT DOWN. I HOPE THE BODY COMPARES WITH MY ARGUMENTS AND OVERRIDES THE VETO. I NOTE A BRIEF WAS SIGNED TO PRESERVE THE WORLD WAR I MONUMENT IN MARYLAND. THANK YOU.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN FROM RICHMOND CITY, MISS CARR.

Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond): THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO SPEAK TO THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.

[Unknown]: GENTEL WOMAN HAS THE FLOOR.

Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond): THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. HOUSE BILL 587 OVERRIDES THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT THE WAR MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SWEEPING OVERRIDE OF AUTHORITY INCLUDING SELLING THE STORY OF SOME HEROS FOR MANY WARS INCLUDING REVOLUTIONARY WAR AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DARKEST MOMENTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR. THERE IS A MY OWN CHURCH ACROSS 9TH STREET IS INVOLVED IN DISCUSSIONS AND DISCERNMENTS. THESE ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED. THIS BILL EFFECTIVELY ENDS THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS. THE GOVERNOR HEARD FROM CITIZENS INCLUDING NAACP AND ACLU URGED HIM TO VETO AND HE HAS. THIS TO CONVENE TO BALANCE RESERVATION OF HISTORY IN THE CONCERNS OF MANY VIRGINIANS. I ASK YOU TO SUSTAIN THE GOVERNOR'S VETO AND PREVENT LOCAL CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND LOCAL COMPARISONS.

[Unknown]: MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, I RISE WITH GRAVE PERSONAL AND DEEPLY FELT MISGIVINGS ABOUT THIS VETO. AS THE SON OF A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II I KNOW THAT EACH OF US RESPECT THE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE GONE TO WAR TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AND THEIR HOMES. MANY MEMBERS HAVE DONE THE SAME. IN DECEMBER, 1941 MY DAD WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND HE FOUND OUT THAT OUR NATION HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY A COUNTRY NEED NEVER REALLY HEARD OF IN A PLACE HE COULDN'T IDENTIFY. HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD JOIN THE RANKS OF THOSE THAT WOULD PROTECT HIS HOME AND COUNTRY. HE FIND HIMSELF IN A BOMB GROUP IN ENGLAND AND SPENT HIS DAYS ON TARGETS THROUGHOUT EUROPE. WHEN I GREW UP I WAS A HISTORY FAN. I ASKED WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR? AND I WAS OFTEN MET WITH ONE OF THREE RESPONSES, HE EITHER CHANGED THE SUBJECT, MAINTAINED HIS SILENCE, OR TURNED AND WALKED AWAY. I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN I GREW UP, MY DAD TOLD ME THAT AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER, THAT AS SOON AS THE SHOOTING STOPPED, THE PILOTS TOOK HE AND OTHERS ACROSS LOW LEVEL FLIGHTS ACROSS EUROPE TO-TO-LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD DONE. IN LOOKING AT THE DEVASTATION OF WHAT WAS EUROPE, HE WAS SADDENED AND LATER, HE WENT INTO THE THINGS HE WAS LOOKING AT, ON THE GROUND, HE WAS FRANKLY HORRIFIED. HE KNEW HIS ACTIONS WITH THOSE OF HIS COLLEAGUES KILLED TENS OF THOUSAND S OF PEOPLE. AND I WOULD SAY, MR. SPEAKER THERE IS NO WAR IN OUR HISTORY AS FREE OF MORAL AM BIG GU TI THAT SOLDIERS LIKE MY DAD LEFT THEIR HOMES TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES. MY DAD WASN'T A GENERAL. HE WAS A PRIVATE SOLDIER. HE DIDN'T GIVE ORDERS. HE CARRIED THEM OUT. AND HE CAME HOME AND WENT ON WITH HIS LIFE. FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY JUDGE A CONFLICT. BUT WE MAY NOT JUDGE THE COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE CALLED TO SERVE. I AM LESS CONCERNED TODAY WITH WHAT MY DAD DID IN THE WAR THAN WHAT THE WAR DID IN MY DAD. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MY SON TO VISIT A WAR MEMORIAL. HE NEVER KNEW MY FATHER. WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MY DAD SACRIFICED AND MANY FATHERS, MOTHERS AND WIVES SACRIFICED. WE CANNOT CHANGE THE HISTORY WE HAVE. WE CANNOT REVISIT MISTAKES AND HIND SIGHT. BUT DECIDING WHETHER A WAR IS JUST OR NOT IS THE LUXURY OF EXERCISED BY SOLDIERS. TO THOSE WHO SAY WE HAVE THE WRONG MONUMENTS OR TOO MANY, I SUGGEST WE MAYBE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. WE SHOULD TELL OTHERS DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WAR. TO REMIND THEM OF THE LESSONS POLITICIANS NOT A LUXURY THAT MANY DIFFERENT LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED. TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, WITH RESPECT I'M CASTING MY VOTE FOR MY DAD.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN FROM SHENANDOAH, MR. GILBERT.

Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock): THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, SPEAKING TO THE BILL.

[Unknown]: MR. SPEAKER, MORE OF A FRIENDLY REMINDER. I BELIEVE THE QUESTION THE CHAIR IS GOING TO POSE IS SHALL THE HOUSE OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO. AND IN THAT REGARD I ENCOURAGE THE BODY TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock): THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALEXANDRIA, MR. LEVINE.

Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria): MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO SPEAK ON THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN HAS THE FLOOR.

Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria): MR. SPEAKER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE, I LIVE IN OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA. THE FIRST DEATH IN THE CIVIL WAR OCCURRED IN MY HOMETOWN. THEY OCCURRED IN A HOTEL THAT WAS CALLED THE MARSHAL HOUSE, AND NOW, IT'S THE MONACO. THEY SAW A CONFEDERATE FLAG AT THE HOTEL AND A YOUNG UNION SOLDIER RAN UP TO GRAB THE FLAG, WAS SHOT DEAD BY THE HOTEL OWNER AND THE SECOND IN COMMAND SHOT THE HOTEL OWNER AND THEY BOTH DIED IN THE STAIRWAY. THERE ARE IMAGES ABOUT THAT ALL OVER ALEXANDRIA, AND VIRGINIA. THERE IS A PLAQUE ON THE HOTEL MONACO TODAY, ERECTED BY SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND TALKS ABOUT HOW A MAN DIED DEFENDING HIS PROPERTY. IT DOESN'T TELL THE FULL STORY. I VOTED FOR THIS BILL BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE ANY MONUMENTS SHOULD BE DISTURBED. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATUE THAT IS IN MEMORY OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS BUT THE GOVERNOR'S VETO POINTS OUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO EX-MAIN THINGS AND NEED WE NEED ANOTHER SIGN TO TELL THE FULL STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MARSHAL HOUSE SO THAT ONLY THE CONFEDERATE SIDE, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE SHOULD NOT STAND ALONE. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS BILL WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SIGN INTERPRETING THE FORMER SIGN, WHICH IS INCORRECT INTERPRETATIONS. AS A MATTER OF HISTORY, THOUGH VERY INTERESTING AS A MATTER OF HISTORY, I SAY LEAVE THE CONFEDERATE SIGNS ALONE AND ALLOW US TO INTERPRET IT. I VOTE TO SUSTAIN THE GOVERNOR'S VETO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): SHALL THE HOUSE OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO? CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

[Unknown]: AYE, 68, NO, 32. THE GOVERNOR'S VETO IS OVERRIDDEN IN THE HOUSE. CONTINUING WITH TODAY'S CALENDAR. TURNING TO PAGE TWO OF THE PRINTED VERSION. HOUSE BILL TWO. AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE

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Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): ANGE THEIR VOTE? THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson): AYES 24, NOS 15.

[Unknown]: AYES 24, NOS 15. THE ENROLLED FORM OF THE BILL FAILS TO PASS. ON PAGE 714, HOUSE BILL 587. THE HOUSE HAS OVERRIDDEN THE GOVERNOR'S VETO. THE SENATOR FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY, SENATOR STANLEY.

Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta): THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I NOW MOVE THAT WE PASS THE ENROLLED BILL DESPITE THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTION AND VETO OF IT. AND SPEAKING TO THAT MEASURE.

[Unknown]: THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR.

Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta): THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WISH THIS WAS THE COAL TAX CREDIT BILL AGAIN. MAYBE WE WOULD DO BETTER. MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU DO RECALL, HB 587 WAS THE BILL THAT PROTECTS OUR MONUMENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT SIT OUT IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSES AND ERECTED IN PUBLIC PLACES AND LOCALITIES AND CERTAINLY HAD PASSED THIS BODY BY PARTY LINE VOTE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK ON THIS IF WE CAN. AND THE REASON WHY I STAND TODAY AND ASK THAT THIS BODY OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF HB 587. LET REMEMBER WHAT THIS BILL ISN'T BY REMEMBER BAG THIS BILL IS. HB 587 CLARIFIES THE INTENT AND LAW MADE AT THE TIME THAT THIS LAW WAS PASSED IN 1998 TO PROTECT ALL WAR MEMORIAL MONUMENTS ERECTED PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. IT SEEMED IN COMMON SENSE TERMS WHEN THE LAW THAT IT AMENDS NOW WAS ORIGINALLY PASS THE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WAS PROTECTING ALL MONUMENTS NOT THOSE MONUMENTS THAT WERE ERECTED AFTER 1998. FOR THOSE MONUMENTS WOULD CONSIDER DESERT STORM AND IRAQ WAR AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD MANY MORE CONFLICTS THIS NATION HAS BEEN THROUGH WHERE OUR MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN ORDER FOR US TO BE FREE. MANY OF THOSE WARS OCCURRED BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. LIKE THE ALGONQUIN WAR. WE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WAR MEMORIALS THAT CELEBRATE AND HONOR THOSE AMERICANS THAT WERE NOT ALGONQUIN WARS. 1622. I WOULD IMAGINE SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THAT BUT WE RECOGNIZE THOSE SACRIFICES MADE BY AMERICANS. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 1754 TO 1763. IF YOU DO RECALL, THAT WAS BEFORE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1775 TO 1783. AMERICANS FOUGHT AND DIED TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT NATION THAT WE NOW ENJOY THE FRUITS OF. THE WAR OF 1812. 1812 TO 1815. WE HAVE MONUMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THAT CELEBRATE THOSE AMERICANS THOSE VIRGINIANS THAT FOUGHT AND DIED IN THAT WAR. MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR. 1846 TO 1848. I REMIND SOME OF MY FRIENDS OVER THERE SOME PEOPLE AND HISTORIANS HAVE CALLED THAT ONE OF THE WORST POWER GRAB ATTEMPTS BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT GAVE US THE MEXICAN TERRITORIES OF TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA. IT WAS A NAKED POWER GRAB I HAVE HEARD IN SOME HISTORICAL CIRCLES BUT STILL IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF HAVE Z WE HAVE MONUMENTS THAT CELEBRATE THOSE AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT IN THAT WAR. WE HAVE CONFEDERATE AND UNION MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. CIVIL WAR, 1861 TO 1865. WE HAVE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, 1898. WORLD WAR I, 1917-1918. WORLD WAR II. 941 TO 1945. AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES S IN THOSE WARS. KOREAN WAR. 1950 TO 1953. UNDECLARED WAR, MR. PRESIDENT. A CONFLICT BUT WE HAVE BRAVE VIRGINIANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THAT CONFLICT AND WENT TO WAR UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG. VIETNAM WAR. A WAR THAT MY FATHER FOUGHT IN 1965 TO 1973. SOME MAY HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THAT. OPERATION DESERT SHIELD. DESERT STORM. GLOBAL WAR ON TOMORROW. IRAQ FREEDOM. ALL MONUMENTS CELEBRATING AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LAST MEASURE OF DEVOTION SO THAT WE AS A COUNTRY COULD REMAIN FREE. MR. PRESIDENT, HISTORY WHETHER IT BE GOOD, BAD, INDIFFERENT OR UGLY TO SOME IS HISTORY. AND I THINK IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO REMOVE THOSE MONUMENTS THAT WERE CHOSE TON BE ERECTED THAT CELEBRATE OR MEMORIALIZED WITH SOLEMNITY THE DEATHS OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR AMERICA AND I THINK IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR US JUST TO DO IT DUE TO THE WHIMS OF CURRENT CULTURE TODAY OR IN THE FUTURE WHATEVER THE SHIFTS IN THE POLITICAL CULTURE WILL BE. TO VIEW HISTORY ONE HAS TO LOOK AT IT IN THE LENS OF WHAT THOSE VETERANS KNEW AT THE TIME THAT THEY FOUGHT FOR US. NOT THE LENS OF TODAY WHERE WE LEARNED THOSE HARD LESSONS FROM THOSE WARS. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THIS LAW IS A SWEEPING OVERRIDE OF LOCAL AUTHORITY. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. THESE ARE MONUMENTS OF HISTORY. GOOD HISTORY. BAD HISTORY, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. AND I AM REMINDED, MR. PRESIDENT, AND I WILL SAY THIS. I AM REMINDED BY MY FRIENDS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AIL WHEN WE WERE DEBATING A BILL WHO SAID PARENTS SHOULD HAVE NOTICE THIS THEIR CHILDREN WERE GOING TO BE EXPRESSED TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT LANGUAGE THIS A BOOK THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MIX DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN PACE BASED ON THAT. WHAT I HEARD IS CENSORSHIP. LET ME TELL YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, REMOVING A MONUMENT BECAUSE YOU THINK IT HAS AN INCONVENIENT HISTORY TO IT IS CENSORSHIP OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. WE CANNOT CENSOR OUR HISTORY, NOR SHOULD WE. I AM ALSO REMINDED IN 1898 AND 1921 AND 1958 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR WHETHER FOR THE UNION OR FOR THE CONFEDERACY WERE RECOGNIZED AS AMERICAN SOLDIERS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO THEY FOUGHT FOR. THIS A SOLID TRUTH. THEY WERE ENTERED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. THERE ARE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. RELATIVES WERE GIVEN DEATH BENEFITS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND RECOGNIZED AS SUCH. WE CANNOT START CHANGING HISTORY AND ESPECIALLY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH YOUR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, RECOGNIZES THEM. AND IF THERE IS A MONUMENT, OBELISK OR SOMETHING THAT SOLEMNIZES A MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE CIVIL WAR ORAL GONE OR THEALGONQUIN BATTLES OR FRENR INDIAN WAR AND SOMEBODY DOESN'T LIKE IT, THAT IS NOT THE PERSON'S FAULT WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR IT. THAT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. LET US ONLY OVERRIDE THIS VETO TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT A COURT MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE PASS IN THIS BODY, BUT THAT WE EFFECT WAIT THE INTENT OF THE BODY OF THE LAWYER IN 1999 WHEN THEY -- IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 1999 WHEN THEY PASS THE THE LAW IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THIS MERELY CLARIFIES THAT ALL WAR MEMORIALS IS ALL THOSE THAT CELEBRATE AND SOLEMNIZE THOSE THAT GIVE THEIR FULLEST MEASURE, THEIR LAST AND GREATEST BREATH FOR THIS COUNTRY AND FOR US THAT WE REMEMBER THEM AND WE PRESERVE THOSE MONUMENTS THAT REMEMBER THEM LEST WE SOON FORGET. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT,.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU. THE SENATOR FROM HAMPTON, SENATOR LOCKE.

Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton): THANK YOU, I WISH TO SPEAK TO THE MEASURE.

[Unknown]: THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR.

Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton): PRIMARILY WHAT IT WOULD DO IS TO REMOVE A MOD ANIED MOUNTAIN AAHMENT WOULD OVERRIDE THE AUTHORITY OF LOCALITIES TO REMOVE A MODIFIED MONO MONTH THE WAR MEMORIALS ELECTED BEFORE 1998. ANDLET BE REAL, MISSISSIPPI. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE KOREAN WAR. WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR WOULD OR VIETNAM OR ANY OTHER WAR. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE CIVIL WAR. IT WOULD OVERRIDE LOCAL AUTHORITY AND THIS WOULD IMPAIR THE ABILITY TO DISPLAY NEW IN IN TERP PATRIOT -- INTERPRETIVE EVEN AND. WHETHER TO RETAIN OR REMOVE OR ALTER CERTAIN SIM BOMBS OF THE CONFEDERACY AND THIS BILL WOULD END THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ERECTING MONUMENTS TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONSIDERATIONS OF OTHERS WHO LOOK LIKE ME OR NATIVE AMERICANS OR WOMEN WE SEEM TO RUN INTO OBSTACLES AND WALLS FROM THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS LEGISLATION. ON THE SAME DAY AS HIS VETO, THE GOVERNOR DIRECTED HIS SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO FORM A WORK GROUP TO POST TERRITORY A DIALOGUE THAT -- FOSTER DIALOGUE THAT ASSISTS COMMUNITIES WITH BEST PRACTICES THAT BALANCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION WITH WILL GAIT MOUNTAIN CONCERNS REGARDING THE SIM BOMBISM OF SOME MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS. I WOULD SUGGEST WE ADDRESS THAT BEFORE WE PASS THIS LEGISLATION. I WOULD ASK THAT WE SUSTAIN THE GOVERNOR'S VETO. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

[Unknown]: THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE SENATOR FROM WESTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY, SENATOR MORRISON. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. SPEAK TO THE MEASURE. THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. A WISE JUDGE ONCE TOLD ME THE TWO MOST DANGEROUS WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARE ALWAYS AND NEVER IF WOULD COULD NEVER CHANGE OUR MIND AND ALWAYS HAVE TO DO IT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE TO HAVING A LEGISLATURE. LOCALITIES IF THEY ARE THE ONES PLAY PAYING FOR A MONUMENT THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS. ALWAYS AND NEVER ARE PROBLEMATIC WORDS AND WHEN WE PUT THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE NATIONAL CODE IT WILL CREATE REAL DIFFICULTIES FOR FOLKS WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT THEY DON'T FORESEE IN THERMS OF HONORING SOMEONE. IF YOU HAD TWO STATUES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, ONE FOR JEB STEWART AND ONE FOR NATHAN BEDFORD FOREST. JEB STEWART SERVED HONORABLY IN A CAUSE THAT GAVE TO HIS CREDIT AND NATHAN FOREST DID THE SAME THING BUT WENT ON TO FORM THE KLU KLUX KLAN. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES WE NEED TO MAKE ABOUT PEOPLE AND WHEN LOWE LOCALITIES MADE THE DECISIONS IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE QUESTION IS SHALL THE BILL PA IS IN ENROLLED FORM NOTWITHSTANDING THE OBJECTIONS

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