I wish to express great disapproval on the removal of plaques commemorating the family pews of George Washington and Robert E. Lee at Christ Church in Alexandria, our family church.
All Americans, and certainly all Virginians, know of the importance of George Washington to our country. He was an enlightened man of his times who guided the nation through its perilous early years and laid the foundations for the country we are today. He was well ahead of his times in freeing his slaves after his death. His memory, particularly in his own house of worship, should be honored, not dismissed by contemporary notions of “inclusiveness” put forth by the church’s current leadership.
My father, Henry H. Fowler, a former Senior Warden and Vestryman of the Church and my mother, Trudye H. Fowler, both long-time residents of Alexandria, are interred in the Churchyard. They were supporters of civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s — difficult times in Virginia to be sure. They would have been horrified by this action.
Marianne Fowler Smith
Naples, Fla.