History:

Did you know …  Europeans flooded the Americas during the Age of Exploration, the colony of Jamestown was established by a group of wealthy Englishmen in 1607 along the coast of the James River, about 30 miles in from the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the fertile soil, the growth of tobacco became quite an industry and Jamestown was able to thrive, becoming the first successful British colony. In 1619, Jamestown also became the home of the first African slaves brought to the English colonies. 

After the Revolutionary war, Virginia voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution and became the 10th state on June 25, 1788. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, several southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States. At first, Virginia wanted to remain loyal to the Union, but they did not want to fight their fellow southern states. When fighting broke out at Fort Sumter in 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. Much of the fighting during the Civil War took place in Virginia. Some of the major Civil War battles that took place in Virginia included the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Second Battle of Bull Run, and the Battle of Appomattox Court House. It was on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox that General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and the Civil War came to an end. Virginia was finally readmitted to the Union in 1870.

Did you know that It was at St. John’s Church in Richmond where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech? 

LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

Agriculture and Industry:

Did you know …  One of Virginia’s top natural resources is its forests, which cover 62 percent of the state. Virginia profits by selling timber, which generates about $17 billion each year. The region is also known for mining coal. Virginia’s Key Industries include computer chips, communications technology, military, data centers, and the federal government. Though agriculture has declined significantly since 1960 when there were twice as many farms, it remains the largest single industry in Virginia. Virginia’s Agriculture include tomatoes, soybeans, peanuts, tobacco, and hay.

LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

State Bird and State Flower

Did you know …  The official State Bird of Virginia is the Northern Cardinal.  Virginia designated the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as official state bird in 1950. Northern cardinals are distinctive in appearance and song - they're known for their "cheer cheer cheer," "whit-chew whit-chew" and "purty purty purty" whistles.

LEARN MORE.

The official State Flower of Virginia is the American Dogwood.  Virginia designated the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) as the official state floral emblem in 1918. The dogwood is a small, deciduous tree with graceful branches that bloom in spring with large showy flowers (usually greenish-white, sometimes pink or yellow). The dogwood develops red berries in autumn, and the leaves also turn a deep red before falling for winter. 

LEARN MORE.

Virginia Beach, VA

Did you know … Richmond became Virginia’s capital city in 1779, after Jamestown and Williamsburg. Although Virginia’s state capital is Richmond, its largest city is Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach gained status as an independent city in 1952. Virginia Beach’s 35 miles of coastline holds the longest stretch of pleasure beach in the world according to the Guinness World Records. Every year the city hosts the East Coast Surfing Championships as well as the North American Sand Soccer Championship, a beach soccer tournament. It is also home to several long-protected beach areas, three military bases, and two universities. 

Virginia Beach's extensive park system is recognized as one of the best in the United States. Home to 210 city parks, encompassing over 4,000 acres, such as Mount Trashmore Park, Great Neck Park, First Landing State Park, False Cape State Park, Munden Point Park, and Naval Aviation Monument Park. Also, The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938, is an 8,000-acre (32 km2) fresh water refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. The barrier islands feature large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, ponds, ocean beach, and large impoundments for wintering wildfowl. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

LEARN MORE: HERE & HERE.

Washington, D.C.

Did you know …  Washington, D.C. isn’t a state or a city.  It’s a federal district that was formed in 1790. You can probably guess that the "Washington" part of Washington, D.C., was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington. But George Washington never lived there. The White House was completed a year after he died and the second U.S. President, John Adams, was the first to live there. But what about the initials D and C? They stand for District of Columbia, named after Christopher Columbus. 

In 1774 the First Continental Congress—a group of representatives from the colonies—needed a place to meet. The delegates first gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was essentially a capital city, as the capital is wherever the seat of government is. When the first U.S. president, George Washington, took office 1789, the capital was New York City. But the 13 northern and southern states wanted a capital that would represent them equally—not too far north or too far south. (In those days, all the states were along the East Coast, from Georgia to New Hampshire.) So in 1790 Washington chose a spot in the middle, right between the states of Maryland and Virginia. 

Today Washington, D.C., is a 68-square-mile federal district home to important government buildings, including the U.S. Capitol, where the Senate and the House of Representatives meet; the White House, where the president lives and works; and the Supreme Court Building, where many important court rulings are made. The city is also full of landmarks including the Washington Monument, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.

LEARN MORE: HERE & HERE.

Fun Facts

Did you know … Virginia is also known as the Old Dominion State.  The area that’s now Virginia was home to the first English colony in North America, and Virginia was thought of as one of England’s dominions, or territory. That’s why it’s nicknamed the Old Dominion State.

Some famous Virginian’s include are Arthur Ashe - Tennis player, Sandra Bullock – Actress, William Clark - Leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Ella Fitzgerald – Singer, William Henry Harrison - The 9th President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson - The 3rd President of the United States, Robert E. Lee - Confederate general, James Madison - The 4th President of the United States, James Monroe - The 5th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor - The 12th President of the United States, John Tyler - The 10th President of the United States, George Washington - The 1st President of the United States, and Woodrow Wilson - The 28th President of the United States.

Some of Virginia’s Famous locations are Shenandoah National Park, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Jamestown, Chincoteague and Assateague.

LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

Checkout this YouTube Video!

Did you know that First Lady, Hellen Taft received a letter in 1909 from a local author detailing a plan to plant cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and the then mayor of Tokyo and others from Japan donated batches of cherry trees which Mrs. Taft and the Japanese ambassador’s wife planted the first two saplings?

Here are some cherr jokes to make you giggle:

What Saturday morning cartoon do fruits watch? 

Tom and Cherry

Why did the cherry go to the chocolate factory? 

It was cordially invited

Did you hear the joke about the cherry? 

It was pit-iful

What do you call cherries playing the guitar?

A jam session

What happens when a cherry tree grows up?

It blossoms.

Enjoy these very special “Guest Appearance” videos from Miss Dishana and a Story with  Miss Charisse and the newly crowned Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield’s 2020 Youth of the Year, Miss Jenalyse Ayala!

When it comes to Virginia cuisine, their food is as intertwined with history as it is taste. Virginia is known for its southern-style fare including oysters, peanuts, BBQ, country ham, blue crabs, trout, apples, and Brunswick stew. Oysters are the oldest documented food in the Commonwealth, dating back to 1607 when the first English settlers at Jamestown survived on oysters pulled from the James River. Blue Crabs are another delicacy of Virginia’s coastal towns along the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore. Brunswick County, located in Southern Virginia, is the documented birthplace of the hearty meat and vegetable-based Brunswick Stew that has long warmed brisk autumn and winter days. Handsome, plump Virginia peanuts are the largest of the four peanut types grown in the United States. And then there’s the Ham Biscuits, which are a staple at any Virginia gathering.

Here’s a good ol’ Old Dominion Ham Biscuits recipe … Oh My!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pkg   party rolls (20 rolls in package)
• 1 stick       unsalted butter - use the real thing...
• 1 1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 tsp worchestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 - 2 Tbsp grated onion
• 1/4 - 1/2 lb very thinly sliced smithfield smoked ham (i usually get shaved red eye brand country ham from the grocery store deli)
• 1/4 lb very thinly sliced swiss cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Leave the rolls in the pan. Slice off top half of rolls and place beside pan.
3. Combine the butter with the next 4 ingredients and spread on inside of top and bottom of the rolls.
4. Layer ham and cheese on bottom half of rolls, replace top half of rolls, and wrap in foil.
5. Bake 15 minutes or until cheese melts.
6. Using a sharp knife, separate rolls and serve warm.