President Bush is related to Pocahontas?

The replica ships docked at Jamestown, in order of size: Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery.

America's Heritage Flag unveiled at Jamestown this weekend.


Last night, we attended the VIP Evening Reception of Jamestown 2007's Anniversary Weekend, celebrating America's 400th Anniversary. Organizers said that more than 15,000 people came to the beginning of the three-day commemoration of the first permanent English settlement in America.

Over the course of the weekend, local, national and international dignitaries are scheduled to participate in various activities. President Bush is scheduled to visit Sunday, and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor participated in Friday's opening proceedings as well as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and former governor and Republican presidential candidate Jim Gilmore.

Organizers for the event, which has an estimated price tag of $30 million, have said it has three main goals: increasing state tourism, teaching visitors about history and attracting new economic development.

We toured Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum with a wonderful docent who added animation to the stories within. Later this summer, we'll tour the rest of Historic Jamestown (which is a federal park), since Bert has never visited before. As a Virginia-born and -bred girl, Jamestown IS history to me.


Interesting tidbit: who would have thought that President Bush is related to Pocahontas?

In Anniversary Park, across from the Settlement Museum, Ancestry.com had an exhibit showing that:

Bush's 8th great-grandfather Robert Bolling was married twice. His first wife, Jane Rolfe, was Pocahontas' only grandchild. Bush descends from Robert Bolling through his second marriage. In addition, Bush's 8th great-aunt Mary Kennon married Pocahontas' great-grandson.

He's related to most - if not all - of Pocahontas' living descendants. Don't hold that against Pochaontas, though. LOL

More cool, interactive info re: Jamestown:
You think you've got it rough? 1607-2007

Jamestown Celebration, Re-enactments, the Queen, and the BBC at WHRO

The replica Jamestown ships, The Susan Constant, center, Godspeed, right, and Discovery ply the waters of Hampton Roads as they make their way to Virginia Beach to participate in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Va., Tuesday, April 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

I love this area! Such rich history all around us! 105 (minus one who died along the way) men and boys sailed across the Atlantic 400 years ago to become the first permanent English settlers in the New World. Little did they know they'd give birth to history's biggest superpower. The small group of high-born, but ill-prepared colonists who set up camp along the James River on May 14, 1607 on a swampy, mosquito-infested swath of land in Jamestown, were seeking gold and a water route to the Orient. What they found was famine, disease, drought and hostile natives.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, or Her Royal Highness (HRH), visited the Old Dominion (aka Virginia) recently. During the visit earlier this month, her Majesty walked the 200 yards from the Executive Mansion to the portico of the State Capitol in Richmond, greeted by well-wishers.

HRH carefully made the ascent up the steps of the newly-renovated Capitol (she is in her 80s now, after all). Gov. Timothy M. Kaine called it a “celebration of Virginia’s diversity.” Before the queen’s arrival, the crowd was entertained by bands and singers of bluegrass, gospel, jazz and soul. The queen, of course, was restrained.

Inside the Capitol, Elizabeth made a short speech to the General Assembly, which convened a special joint session. She noted how much Virginia has changed since her first visit in 1957 to honor the 350th anniversary of the Jamestown landing.

Wonder what she was thinking whilst glaring at VP Dick Cheney?

“Over the course of my reign and certainly since I first visited Jamestown in 1957, my country has become a much more diverse society, just as the commonwealth of Virginia and the whole United States of America have also undergone a major social change,” she said.

“The melting pot metaphor captures one of the great strengths of your country and is an inspiration to others around the world as we face the continuing social challenges ahead,” she said.

Later in the day, Queen Elizabeth II rolled past crowds in an open-topped carriage along Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg.

Her Majesty zipped down Interstate 64 by motorcade late Thursday afternoon from Richmond and boarded the carriage at the brick Capitol. Two chestnut horses named Captain and Ranger pulled her a half-mile to the Williamsburg Inn.

Three other carriages trailed along, carrying a group of dignitaries that included U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Colin Campbell, the president, chairman and chief executive officer of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Bringing up the rear were four black sport utility vehicles crammed with men in bulletproof vests cradling big guns. My, my, how times have changed.

The BBC was here in Hampton Roads to cover HRH's visit and used the WHRO Radio studio. How cool! Check it out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.whro.org/

Virginia At 500--What Will The 2107 Jamestown Quincentennial Look Like?

X Curmudgeon: Virginia At 500--What Will The 2107 Jamestown Quincentennial Look Like?

check it out! If we were planning to live another 100 years, then perhaps we moved from a robust area (Harrisonburg) to a devastated area (Hampton Roads). One can only ponder, but clever food for thought!