Request to Remove Lunenburg Statue Sent to Supervisors

LUNENBURG – A request was recently sent by letter to the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors asking that the Confederate Soldier statue that stands at the front of the Lunenburg County Courthouse be removed.

Rev. Wiley Wallace and Carole Wallace who live in Kenbridge sent the letter on June 14 to the Lunenburg Supervisors stating, “We are writing this letter to request that the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors bring to question the removal of the Confederate Soldier statue from the front of the Lunenburg County Courthouse.”

The letter continued, “Given the recent demonstrations and the movement to evidence equality for all across our nation, for us the statue at the courthouse does not convey this perception.”

The letter went on, “For those from the North and more importantly and especially for residents of color, the statue symbolizes a time when equality for all was not the norm. We are one nation. To enter the courts of our county and expect justice for all, any perception which is contrary to our constitution that all men are created equal, 

must and should be avoided. Do we think the statue should be destroyed? Definitely no. Removal of the statue to a location which would provide some historical context would, we believe, be appropriate. We cannot deny history but we can learn its lessons and not 

perpetuate its mistakes. And who would pay for this removal? That issue would need to be addressed, as well as where it is most appropriate for the statue to go; however, approving the removal and relocation of the statue is the heart of the matter.

Lunenburg County is considered the “Mother of all Counties” in Virginia and we are hopeful that it will embrace its rich heritage and take the action needed in these changing and healing times.”

The statue was originally at the Victoria Town Square, but was moved to the Lunenburg Courthouse location in 1968.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill in April allowing individual localities to remove, relocate or contextualize Confederate statues and monuments within their communities. The letter comes just weeks before each locality can do this starting July 1.