Since renaming of streets has gone hog wild throughout the Old Dominion, otherwise known as the Commonwealth of Virginia, I wanted to give Alexandria city a few suggestions. I know there’s a committee seeking names to replace the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway, also known as U.S. Route 1.
Quite understandably perhaps there are many who prefer to keep the current designation but prefer to be quiet to avoid any verbal abuse from non-history lovers.
To be somewhat fair, Arlington is in the process seeking to blot out the name of the Kentuckian, the first and only president of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865. In 1913, the United Daughters of the Confederacy put together plans to building a transcontinental road to run through the south. Today the Davis Highway still runs through Virginia, Alabama and other states.
Transparency requires me to note that President Jimmy Carter pardoned Democrat Jefferson Davis and restored his rights to full citizenship 1976. Congress restored General Robert E. Lee’s citizenship in 1978, giving him absolution as well.
Now for the sake of good citizenship, community goodwill and all around honors, I have some nominations to name U.S. Route 1. It is rather convenient at this point to place the following great people in the process. My selections could all rank at the top of the list:
Mayor Patsy Ticer Expressway
Judge Daniel Fairfax O’Flaherty Highway
Corporal Charles William Hill Memorial Highway
City Manager Vola Lawson Highway
PATSY TICER was Alexandria’s first female mayor and served four terms as state senator. She died at age 81, Aug. 7. A city native she was a political expert who devoted her life to Alexandria and her achievements are well recorded.
JUDGE DANIEL FAIRFAX O’FLAHERTY served 42 years on the city’s General District court and retired as chief judge in 1998. He died at 89 on March 26, 2015. A strong community leader and beloved for his creating the Ballyshaners, sponsors of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
VOLA LAWSON died at age 79 on Dec. 10 2013. She served as Alexandria’s City Manager for 15 years. She was assistant city manager from 1981 to her appointment in 1985. Her achievements in the city are well recorded and admired. She was named a Living Legend in 2007.
CPL. CHARLES WILLIAM HILL, 40, was a distinguished and courageous member of the Alexandria Police Department. He was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 22, 1989. Five people were held hostage by a gunman armed with a shotgun.
Most certainly there are other individuals more than worthy to be honored. The list would be too long to list here. The honors would truly be for every citizen of Alexandria where women and men as I’ve mentioned have given themselves for the people. My list stands out.
Average citizens in a community like Alexandria usually aren’t acquainted with leaders as I’ve mentioned. Each one was unselfish and caring people who made differences for the public good every day. They are worthy of the highest honors and would blush at the thought of highways or freeways in their names.
The brief biographies of each of my nominations could be expanded ad infinitum. Each could pass background checks for the highest public trust. This is the kind of journalistic endeavor that’s a pleasure to file and an example for every person.
Maybe their pictures could be on the walls of every city public school classroom.