A majority of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to protect and maintain the statue in the courtyard.
Karl Weiss, of the Blue Ridge District, made a motion that the board “support not removing the statue for any reason” and commit to maintaining it.
Lock Boyce, of the Mayo Rover District, cast the dissenting vote.
“I don’t believe we should take this vote” because it is a moot point under existing state law, Boyce said. He added he also would not support the county spending taxpayer dollars on the statue, but would make a personal donation if a move was needed in the future.
Boyce asked for discussion of the statue to be included on the agenda Monday due to recent events in other localities like Charlottesville.
“I would be in favor of removing all memorials from public lands and transferring them to private land where they can be viewed by the public” who so desire, Boyce has said. However, he noted removal is prohibited under current Virginia Code regarding memorials for war veterans.
Section 15.2-1812 states, in part, it is “unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials … or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same.”
The vote Monday came after some supervisors expressed doubt about the validity of the current law, and following a public comment period with at least seven speakers addressing the board.
A majority — Richard Cox, Gene Fain, Robert Mitchell, Garland Burge, Sam Foley and Jason Fix – spoke in support of preserving the statue in its current location. Some asked the supervisors to commit to doing the same with a recorded vote, and others questioned the reason for the discussion.
“Why did you bring it up if you knew the law,” Cox asked Boyce. “What happens in other parts of Virginia is not our concern really,” because rural areas, like Patrick County, are not heard at the state level due to “the voices that come out of northern Virginia.”
Don Johnson said he supports moving the statue to a museum to put it in historical context or adding something “to show what we went through” because history must be portrayed in total detail.
Rickie Fulcher, of the Peters Creek District, said in his opinion, extremists on both sides are battling each other. Those trapped in the middle – the majority – are forced to “make choices we ought to not be making.” He said Americans should work together to squash extremists on both sides.
“I would never support that statue coming down,” Fulcher said. Combatants on both sides fought “to protect their homeland and preserve their family. Everyone went because their country” or state called them to serve. Statues such as the infantry soldier in the courtyard honor the sacrifices of both sides, Fulcher said to a round of applause from those gathered in the board room.
In other matters:
*Supervisors directed the county administrator to arrange a joint meeting with the Patrick County School Board for a future date.
Schools Superintendent Bill Sroufe said he spoke to Rose on Tuesday, and understood supervisors wanted a “Q and A…. My board right now is not interested in a dual meeting,” but is willing to provide answers to questions posed by supervisors.
Seating was limited later Monday, as a steady stream of constituents arrived at the Patrick County Board of Supervisors meeting, many to comment during discussion about the statue in the courtyard. (Photo contributed by Gary Plaster)
