From left, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.; Mayor Molly Ward, Hampton, Va.; Interior Secretary Ken Salazar; watch President Barack Obama sign a Proclamation to designate Fort Monroe, in Hampton, Va., a National Monument under the Antiquities Act, in the Oval Office, Nov. 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
From Wil LaVeist of The Wil LaVeist Show: Hampton is Black America’s Ellis Island
In a ceremony at the White House yesterday, President Barack Obama confirmed Fort Monroe as a national monument, saying it was all about “preserving our nation’s treasures.” It is the first time he has used the Antiquities Act to create a national monument.
Now the site ought to be the location for the proposed National Slavery Museum, if the museum is going to be built at all. The museum, the vision of former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected black governor, is in bankruptcy court. Old Point Comfort, the site of Fort Monroe, is where the first African indentured servants arrived in English speaking America in 1619. It’s also the location where slaves began to gain their freedom in mass during the Civil War in 1861, becoming known as the Contraband Slaves.
Read more by the Daily Press: It’s official – President Obama confirms Fort Monroe park designation
The Wil LaVeist Show can be heard every Wednesday @ noon to 1 p.m. EST live via the Web on www.whov.org or in Hampton Roads on 88.1FM WHOV.
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HR Partnership
November 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
From the City of Hampton:
Fort Monroe: A Monumental Success!
President Signs Proclamation Designating Fort Monroe a National Monument
President Obama has signed the proclamation making Fort Monroe a National Monument!
“Fort Monroe has played a part in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American history. But today isn’t just about preserving a national landmark — it’s about helping to create jobs and grow the local economy. Steps like these won’t replace the bold action we need from Congress to get our economy moving and strengthen middle-class families, but they will make a difference,” President Obama said in a release from the White House.
“With the strong support of the people of Virginia, from the congressional delegation to Governor McDonnell to Mayor Ward and the citizens of Hampton, President Obama has ensured that this historic fort, a symbol of the long struggle for freedom for African Americans, will be preserved as a national park for generations to come,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in the release.
Hampton Mayor Molly Ward traveled to D.C. this morning to witness this monumental moment. She said, “We are thrilled and grateful that the President has chosen to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate a major portion of Fort Monroe as a National Monument.” Watch the mayor’s video message.
First exercised by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devil’s Tower in Wyoming as the first national monument, the Antiquities Act has been used by 14 presidents since 1906 to protect some of the most unique natural and historic features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Today marks the first time President Obama has used this authority under the Antiquities Act.
National parks are responsible for $13.3 billion dollars of local, private-sector economic activity nationwide, supporting 267,000 private-sector jobs. There are currently 21 national park units located in Virginia; Fort Monroe would be the 22nd and the 396th nationwide.
We worked together to see the fort preserved, and now it’s time to celebrate our success! Come out Friday, Nov. 4 to Fort Monroe’s Continental Park starting at 5:30 p.m. The TRADOC band will play from 6-7 p.m. Program begins at 7 p.m. There will be refreshments for sale, or you can bring a picnic.