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The 26th annual Lee-Jackson Day events will be held this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, in Lexington.
The purpose of the event is to commemorate the lives of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, both of who are buried in Lexington.
Events will kick off with a private tour of the Jackson House at 9 a.m. on Friday and cemetery tour at 10:30 a.m. Additional events include a symposium, parade, memorial services, luncheon, memorial brick laying, and a gala.
The Lee-Jackson Symposium will start at noon on Friday in the Virginia Horse Center’s Mezzanine. Speakers and topics will include historian Robert E.L. “Bobby” Krick on “The Relationship of Generals T.J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart”; D. Jonathan White on “Jackson’s Valley Campaign Strategic Panic on the part of the Lincoln Administration”; and historian Bill Potter on “Lee and Jackson On the Doctrine of Divine Providence.”
A silent auction will also begin at noon and refreshments will be served by the Mary Anna Jackson O.C.R. Chapter.
Memorial ceremonies will be held on Saturday with attendees arriving at 10 a.m. at Jackson Circle in the city cemetery for a tribute to Stonewall Jackson. The Lee-Jackson Parade will follow at 11 a.m. from the cemetery through downtown Lexington. The parade will feature reenactors in Civil War uniforms and period attire.
At noon, the annual memorial program and address will be held at the Virginia Horse Center’s Mezzanine featuring a speech by professor and retired Lt. Col. Dr. Jeffrey Addicott, who’s latest book is “Trampling Union Terror: Riders of the Second Alabama Cavalry.”
A luncheon will follow for reserved guests. Following the luncheon, a memorial brick laying ceremony will be held at the Lee-Jackson Memorial Park in Fairfield (weather permitting).
The Virginia Horse Center Mezzanine will be the site of the Lee-Jackson Gala at 6 p.m., which will feature a meal and dancing to the music of The Blockade Runners.
All events are free and open to the public with the exception of the tours, luncheon and gala, for which tickets may be purchased online at leejacksonpark. com.
The events are sponsored by the Lee & Jackson Memorial Committee of the Stonewall Brigade, Sons of Confederate Veterans #1296 of Lexington.
