Bill Text: VA HR37 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Commending Molly Ward.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-05 - House: Bill text as passed House (HR37ER) [HR37 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2012-HR37-Enrolled.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 37 Commending Molly Ward.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2012

WHEREAS, Molly Ward, the mayor of Hampton, is commended for her dedicated efforts to establish a national monument at Fort Monroe and preserve the Fort for years to come; and

WHEREAS, since the announced closing of Fort Monroe in 2005, Molly Ward has worked tirelessly alongside citizens and other elected officials to ensure that the history and beauty of the Fort would be protected as a public place for all to enjoy; and

WHEREAS, Molly Ward helped bring together numerous interested parties in a nonpartisan, collaborative effort to preserve Fort Monroe's legacy and encourage the designation of Fort Monroe as a national monument under the National Park Service; and

WHEREAS, Hampton City officials, led by Molly Ward, and numerous citizen groups partnered to encourage the designation of the historic fort as a national monument, with thousands of citizens supporting the effort by sending comments to the National Park Service during its public comment period; and

WHEREAS, the combined efforts resulted in the size of the proposed monument increasing several times to its current proposal of 244 acres of direct park ownership, with a total of 324 acres within the park boundary; and

WHEREAS, with studies showing that national parks create jobs and increase adjacent property values, Molly Ward's work to have Fort Monroe designated as a national monument will help the City of Hampton and village of Phoebus regain its economic vitality; and

WHEREAS, Molly Ward has played a pivotal role in helping to create a national monument that will not only preserve one of the Commonwealth's important historic sites but serve as another attraction to draw visitors to the Hampton Roads region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Molly Ward hereby be commended for her efforts to establish a national monument at Fort Monroe; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Molly Ward as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration and respect for her hard work and contributions to preserve Fort Monroe for generations to come.