To the Editor:
I am writing to compliment the Mount Vernon Gazette for publishing Tim Peterson’s very informative article on the situation concerning J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church (“First Step on Re-Naming School,” Aug. 4).
This case is very important because it could set a precedent for how other school names are handled in Fairfax County. I am firmly opposed to changing the names of any school.
It seems to me that when J.E.B. Stuart High School opened in 1959, the Civil War Centennial was looming and there was tremendous amount of interest at that time in publicizing anything and everything to do with the War Between the States,
There is also a state roadside marker on Route 7 near the school which chronicles J.E.B. Stuart’s exploits in that neighborhood at Munson’s Hill in 1861 after the 1st Battle of Manassas.
It was for these very appropriate reasons that the school was named for the dashing J.E.B. Stuart. Our young people would do well to study the military exploits of J.E.B. Stuart. The School Board needs to focus on more important things than changing school names. This is political correctness run amok.
Greg Paspatis
Alexandria