Preservation Efforts in Virginia

Sadly... both the Centreville fortifications and the Ox Hill battlefield have been developed into a mix of townhouses, office buildings and strip malls. What is troubling, is that the local character and national heritage represented by these historic sites, was considered less important than building yet another high density development. Especially in an area that is already overwhelmed with too much traffic.

Where do we go when we need to reflect on who we are... or to be inspired when life's troubles are overwhelming? Certainly not a strip mall. The next time someone asks why our children have no values, I would have to answer in part, "that we have taken away their heritage... their roots... a way to measure themselves".

I know many blame our government officials and they are partially right in doing so. Yes, our government should guard our heritage, but "we the people" are the government and we must actively maintain our heritage through education and resolve.

Developers should not have been allowed to build on land that is nationally significant, especially historic sites that are the final resting place of our war dead. Unless communities make a real effort to support preservation efforts now, the history that defines who we are as a people, will continue to disappear at an alarming rate.

This section contains articles pertaining to preservation efforts in Fairfax and Virginia.
By Jennifer Cooper Chantilly/Centreville Times Article Thursday, April 11, 2002	Builders Prevail Again Over the vehement protests of local historians and Civil War buffs, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Monday approved a 47-home subdivision near Centreville's historic district.


By Steven Ginsberg Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, March 27, 2002; Page B08	Victory at a Va. Civil War Battleground Builder Gains Approval for Development After Accommodating Preservationists


By Steven Ginsberg Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, February 10, 2002; Page PW01	Commission Rejects Plan To Develop Historic Site New Bristow's Impact On Rte. 28 a Concern. Editors Note: Along with concern over saving the Battle of Bristoe Station, this site also contains 500 plus graves.


By Steve Case CEO of AOL Washington Post Thursday , March 16, 2000 ; A27	Connected To Our Community An essay about AOL's commitment to help preserve and promote our regional community.


By Michael Leahy Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, July 29, 1999; Page V01	County May List Civil War Sites Study Sought Amid Development Fears


By Mario Espinola Letter to the Editor, Washington Post Friday, August 6, 1999; Page A20	Salvaging Fairfax's Civil War Heritage Letter to the editor responding to above article.


By William Branigin Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, October 14, 1999; Page V01	Putting Money Where History Was Groups Urging State to Fund Preservation


By Dan Eggen and Ann O'Hanlon Washington Post Staff Writers Tuesday, November 23, 1999; Page A1	Inner-Suburb Residents Rallying for Slow Growth Growing opposition to development is having an impact on local politics.