Lee-Jackson Day Celebrated|ABC 13

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Lee-Jackson Day Celebrated

posted 6:06 pm Sat January 19, 2008 - Lexington, VA

In Lexington Saturday, there was a commemoration of two men many consider to be American heroes. Lee-Jackson Day is a holiday here in Virginia and people in Lexington have marked it for more than 100 years.

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Organizers brought back a larger and more elaborate event in honor of Robert E. Lee and 'Stonewall' Jackson. A reminder of a bloody and defining time in American history, nearly 150 years ago.

Brandon Dorsey, Organizer - "That whole time span is of great importance to Americans."

And of great importance to that time is General "Stonewall" Jackson. The crowd stopped at his grave to salute the confederate leader.

Dorsey - "It is very important to us to remember where we come from. A wise man said, if you want to know where you are going, you gotta know where you came from."

The crowd paraded through town, hoping to impress onlookers with the color and customs of the past.

Marjorie Furmick, Participant - "The youth of today should see the passion involved in history, not just as a subject, but people living it and acting it and wearing the clothes."

Patti Dillard, Spectator - "For my children here, it's pretty neat to see people in the costumes. Kinda thinking, wow, 150 years ago we would have seen this."

Re-enactors want to spread their passion for history.

Furmick - "They live and eat it. I believe they think they are a Civil War participant. They are not of this era, they are more of that era."

After the parade, it was time to commemorate General Lee. They did so at Lee Chapel where he's buried.

Dorsey - "They stood up for their principles and their state."

Saturday was General Lee's birthday and General 'Sonewall' Jackson's birthday is Monday. At one point Virginia lawmakers decided to commemorate Lee, Jackson and Martin Luther King on the same day. But the holidays were later split.

Latest Comment on Lee-Jackson Day Celebrated

orkin

12:13 am on 01/20/08

"Happy Birthday General Lee and General Jackson".

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