Text: A Birthday Tribute To General Robert E. Lee By Calvin E. Johnson, Jr. Dix414036@aol.com Kennesaw, Georgia 1-6-2 The men and women who serve our nation in its Armed Forces are "True American Heroes." General Robert E. Lee served this country valiantly and will always be a "Hero" among the people. This letter is dedicated to all the great people who have served and are presently serving to keep their country free. God bless them all! On or near January 19, 2003, many commemorations will be sponsored throughout the USA to honor and pay tribute to General Robert E. Lee on his birthday. In the past there were also memorials done at the old Congressional building in Washington D.C. where Statuary Hall is located. When the War Between the States ended many Americans worked hard to rebuild this nation. No one worked harder to unify this nation then Lee. General Lee was offered and he accepted a position as President of a financially troubled institution of higher learning-Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. This school, which has become one of the best schools in the nation, was named after the Father of our country and first President, George Washington. After Robert E. Lee's death on October 12, 1870, Washington College was renamed Washington-Lee College in his honor. At 9:30 on the morning of October 12, 1870. General Robert E. Lee fell dead of a heart attack on the college campus and it was ordered that he be placed on a bed where he fell. On the evening of the 12th, 5 Cadets, of the college, were selected to stay the night with the body of Lee and was removed on the 13th to the college Chapel where he laid in state to be buried on the 14th. The buildings of Washington-Lee College and the town of Lexington were draped in black in respect and the Cadets were required to wear badges made from black crape for 6 months. Many people came from near and far to pay final respects to Lee on the 14th. A funeral procession made its way from the school grounds to the town and back. The school brass band, that led the procession, played the death march and artillery cannons were fired in respect. Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807, at "Stratford" Westmoreland County, Virginia. Robert was the son of "Light Horse Harry" and Ann Hill (Carter) Lee. He grew up in a place whose people still remembered George Washington and the Heroes of the Revolutionary War. Lee was educated at the schools of Alexandria, Virginia and he received an appointment to West Point Military Academy in 1825. He graduated 2nd in his class and without a single demerit. While serving as 2nd Lieutenant of Engineers at Fort Monroe, Virginia, Lee married Mary Ann Randolph Curtis. The Lees' had seven children , three of whom served the Confederacy. Robert was appointed Superintendent of West Point in 1852. Lee believing in his family and friends of Virginia turned down an offer by President Abraham Lincoln to command all armies of the Union and resigned his Army command when the state of Virginia seceded from the Union. He offered his sword to President Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy. He commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and in 1865, was given command to all Confederate forces.

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