CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

Congressional Record: January 19, 2007 (Extensions)]

[Page E164]

From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:cr19ja07-48]                         

TRIBUTE TO GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE

 HON. JIM MARSHALL

of Georgia

in the House of Representatives

Friday, January 19, 2007

 Mr. MARSHALL: Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to General  Robert E. Lee in celebration of 

the bicentennial of his birthday. A U.S. war hero, Lee has been lauded by past president-

s and historians and as one of our nation's greatest men and greatest generals.

His birthday has been celebrated in Georgia as a state holiday since 1889 and the Geor-

gia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be marking the occasion this year 

with a birthday celebration at the Georgia State Capitol. It is my pleasure to also recog-

nize this event within our nation's Capitol.

  Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19, 1807, in Virginia to parents who played in-

strumental in some of our country's early history.

  Lee also dedicated himself to his country--graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

  and accepting a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lee's first ass-

  ignment was in Georgia, where he supervised the construction of Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island.

  While Lee is probably best remembered as a commanding officer in the Confederate States Army, he 

  also played a key role in defending our country during the Mexican-American War, protecting settlers 

  on the Texas frontier and educating fu-ture leaders as superintendent of West Point.

  Following the Civil War, Lee accepted a position as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virgin-

  ia. As president, Lee worked to rebuild the war-ravaged South and stressed the importance of moving 

  forward as a nation of united Americans. Lee also is credited with transforming the college, which has 

  since been renamed Washington and Lee University, into one of the nation's finest institutions of higher 

 education.

  Lee continued to serve as president of Washington College until his death on October 12, 1870. Years 

  later during the unveiling of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Statue, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would 

  call Lee ``one of our greatest American Christians and one of our greatest American gentlemen.''

  Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in recognizing the accomplishments of this 

  great American.