July 21, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary, or sesquicentennial, of the Civil War's Battle of Bull Run, and tourism officials planning commemorative events are falling heavy on the theme of peace.
"We want to have a rolling series of events, basically for five years, because this is a national celebration and a state celebration," the Convention and Visitor's Bureau interim director, Sharon Cavileer, told Prince William supervisors Tuesday. Plans were to follow the state's plan for commemoration and show the extent of the Civil War's effects from a range of perspectives -- from civilian to slave to soldier, both Union and Confederate.
"In Prince William, the sesquicentennial is an American legacy of war, peace and reconciliation," Cavileer said, adding that planned events include a speech from a Nobel peace prize winner and a Peace Jubilee at the Old Courthouse in Manassas. On top of that, the key theme or message of the sesquicentennial is a proposed: "Where the battle began and peace prevails."
That's fine, said Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At-large. But less peace and more realism is in order, he said.
"I think we need to work on the message. The Civil War was not about peace. It ended in peace; it had to end in peace," he said. "If you want to have a Nobel peace prize speaker, that's okay, I guess. For God's sake, I hope it's an American."
The CVB and sesquicentennial marketing strategists should not "water down" the realities and lessons of the Civil War to the point where it's forgotten that this was a uniquely American period that ultimately led "to the uniting of the nation so it became the power it is," Stewart said.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-530-3903.
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