For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
EPHESIANS 6:12 (NIV)


McLean Bible Church

~*~

"And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature of its intentness. Man doth not yield himself to the angels, nor unto death utterly, save only through the weakness of his feeble will.

-- Joseph Glanvill"

"Ligeia" by Edgar Allan Poe, 1838

Never Forget

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Re-elect President Bush!

Americans of Faith Operation Vote

Operation Kindness Care Packages for Troops



My Favorite Free Republic Thread:
How many Freepers does it take to change a lightbulb?

How many Virginians does it take to change a lightbulb?
Four, one to change the bulb and three to talk about how great the old one was!

Virginia is

Song Emeritus of the Old Dominion
"Carry Me Back to Old Virginia"

Possible New State Song
"Virginia"
No. 48

Virginia, you are my homeland
How I love your gentle beauty
From Virginia Beach to the Blue Ridge Mountains
Rich in grace and history
You are always home to me

Dogwoods blooming in the springtime
Blazing colors in the fall
The softness of a summer twilight
Sweet honeysuckle fills the air
My heart will always lead me there

Mother to our Founding Fathers
Birthplace of Democracy
Your fields bear scars of raging battles
Witnessed the fight to set men free
The triumph of equality

Sunrise dances on your waters
Sunset paints your hills in gold
The Shenandoah flows to the ocean
From past to future yet unknown
Virginia always will be home

Shenandoah National Park

Civil War Trails

Welcome to Virginia!

The Family Foundation of Virginia
Defending Faith, Family, and Freedom
Across the Commonwealth

Northern Virginia GOP.com

Virginia Club for Growth


The Madison Project



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Fairfax Area Young Republicans



Alexandria Young Republicans



Republican Party of Virginia

Virginia Homepage

Welcome to Virginia

Virginia General Assembly

THE GREAT SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH
The great seal of the Commonwealth was adopted by the Virginia's Constitutional Convention on July 5, 1776. Its design was the work of a committee composed of George Mason, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, and Robert Carter Nicholas. George Wythe was probably the principal designer, taking its theme from ancient Roman mythology.

The original design was never properly cast and a number of variations came into use. Attempting to legislate uniformity, the General Assemblies of 1873 and 1903 passed acts describing the seal in detail. In 1930, a committee was named to prepare an "accurate and faithful description of the great seal of the Commonwealth, as it was intended to be by Mason and Wythe and their associates." The committee set forth the official design in use today, which is essentially the design adopted by the Virginia's Constitutional Convention of 1776.

The obverse side of the great seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus representing the spirit of the Commonwealth. She is dressed as an Amazon, a sheathed sword in one hand, and a spear in the other, and one foot on the form of Tyranny, who is pictured with a broken chain in his left hand, a scourge in his right, and his fallen crown nearby, implying struggle that has ended in complete victory. Virginia’s motto,
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Latin for
"Thus Always to Tyrants",
appears at the bottom.

On the reverse side of the seal are the three Roman goddesses, Libertas (Liberty) in the center holding a wand and pileus in her right hand, Aerternitas (Eternity) with a globe and phoenix in her right hand, and Ceres (Fruitfulness) with a cornucopia in her left hand and an ear of wheat in her right. At the top is the word Perservando (Latin for "by Persevering"). A border of Virginia creeper encircles the designs on each side.

Official colors were established by the Art Commission in 1949 and a water color, the only official model for flag makers and stationers, hangs in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is designated by the Code of Virginia as the keeper of the great seal. The great seal of the Commonwealth is affixed to documents signed by the governor and intended for use before tribunals and for purposes outside the jurisdiction of Virginia.

VIRGINIA STATE FLAG AND SALUTE
In 1861, the Virginia State Convention passed an ordinance establishing a design virtually identical to that in current use. This flag has a deep blue field with a circular white center. The obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth has been identically painted or embroidered on each side of the flag. A white silk fringe adorns the edge farthest from the flag staff.

In 1954, the General Assembly adopted an official salute to the flag of Virginia which states:

"I salute the flag of Virginia, with reverence and patriotic devotion to the ‘Mother of States and Statesmen,’ which it represents—the ‘Old Dominion,’ where liberty and independence were born."

SENATE OF VIRGINIA SEAL
The Seal for the Senate of Virginia was initiated in 1973 by Senator James D. Hagood, President pro tempore. Senator Hagood was concerned with the misuse of the great seal of the Commonwealth and wanted a seal designed for the Senate. Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr., was selected to head the project. The College of Arms in London agreed to undertake the project and designed a seal drawn from the devisal of arms (seal) of the London Company. A general description of the Senate seal follows:

On the dexter of the arms is the state bird, a cardinal with wings outspread. On the sinister side of the shield is a dragon, part of the arms of the sovereigns of England. In the shield are four quarters—the arms of France (modern), those of England, those of Scotland, and those of Ireland. To denominate the Senate as a law-making body, on the cross there is superimposed an ivory gavel. Above the shield is a helmet, otherwise referred to as a "helm", with a wreath of dogwood flowers, the state flower, supporting the female figure which represents Queen Elizabeth. There is a scroll on each side of the maiden. The ribbon at the base of the shield contains the motto of the Senate,
"Floreat Senatus Virginiae",
translated as
"May the Senate of Virginia flourish."

The Senate seal was accepted by the Senate on
January 22, 1981.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES MACE
The Mace is a ceremonial staff presented to the House of Delegates in 1700 by the Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia. Displayed in the old House chamber is an Edwardian style mace made of silver with a 24-karat gold wash. Purchased in England, it was presented to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1974 by the Jamestown Foundation. The mace is presented by the sergeant-at-arms in the current House chamber and remains each day until the House adjourns.

The importance of the mace lies in its symbolism, which derives from English tradition. Centuries ago, the King’s bodyguard carried clubs in order to protect the royal person when traveling among the people. Gradually the club, or mace, was replaced by other more useful weapons and it became an ornament of beauty, often made of precious metals encrusted with jewels, and an object symbolic of royal authority and power. As such, it was first used in the British House of Commons.

Today a mace can also be seen in the United States House of Representatives, and it symbolizes, as it does here, the importance of our government.

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Eight Virginia-born Presidents

 

George Washington

1st President

President from 1789 to 1797

Washington was commander of the troops of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States (serving two terms). He is known as the "Father of Our Country." His lifelike statue in the Rotunda of the Capitol was created by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, and it is the only statue for which Washington ever posed.

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Thomas Jefferson

3rd President

President from 1801 to 1809

Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the designer of the original portion of the Capitol. During his presidency, he oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. He was also the founder of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and was the governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.

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James Madison

4th President

President from 1809 to 1817

Madison served as a Virginia state legislator and later as secretary of state under President Jefferson. He was a leader in the writing of the Constitution and is known as the "Father of the Constitution." He was President during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.

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James Monroe

5th President

President from 1817 to 1825

Monroe served in the General Assembly; was twice governor of Virginia; served in Congress as a representative and a Senator; held several diplomatic posts; and served as secretary of war and secretary of state under President James Madison. He is known for the Monroe Doctrine, a geopolitical policy designed to keep European powers from further colonization in the western hemisphere, a policy he developed during his presidency.

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William Henry Harrison

9th President

President in 1841

Harrison won fame as an Indian fighter and was the victor in the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He commanded American troops in the War of 1812. He served only one month as President, dying of pnuemonia while in the White House. It is said that he became ill from exposure to the extreme cold during the long hours of his outdoor inauguration.

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John Tyler

10th President

President from 1841 to 1845

Tyler succeeded Harrison after his untimely death in 1841. A major accomplishment during his administration was the annexation of Texas, which became a state in 1845.

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Zachary Taylor

12th President

President from 1849 to 1850

Taylor was born in Orange County and raised in Kentucky. He fought in various Indian wars but won fame for his victories in the Mexican War. His presidency was cut short at just 16 months when he died in office in 1850.

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Thomas Woodrow Wilson

28th President

President from 1913 to 1921

Wilson was born in Staunton and raised in Georgia and South Carolina. He served as president of Princeton University and governor of New Jersey. He was President for two terms, and during his service the United States fought in World War I.

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