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VMI to Keep Confederate Statues, But With Context

Virginia Military Institute Cadets
creative commons
Virginia Military Institute Cadets

LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) - A Virginia military college has decided to keep its Confederate statues but consider adding more historical context in light of a violent white nationalist rally last month.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the board of the Virginia Military Institute met Tuesday and decided to keep its statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and another meant to honor VMI cadets who fought and died for the Confederacy.

VMI Board of Visitors President John William Bowland suggested adding a plaque to honor cadets who fought for the Union.

A number of Virginia communities, including Richmond, are debating what to do with Confederate monuments and other symbols since the rally in Charlottesville that descended into deadly violence.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.