Vermont § 6 - Executive Order No. 22-6 (No. 07-10) [Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission]

§ 6. Executive Order No. 22-6 (No. 07-10) [Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission]

• WHEREAS, the American Civil War was a defining moment in our nation’s history as the
  Union was preserved and slavery abolished; and WHEREAS, the sesquicentennial of the War will be observed from 2011 to 2015; and WHEREAS, Vermont, the first state to outlaw slavery, played an important role in the
  abolition movement, opposed and legislated against the Fugitive Slave Act, and provided
  numerous stops on the Underground Railroad; and WHEREAS, the bravery of Vermonters on the battlefield is well documented, including
  the First Vermont Brigade which saw action in nearly every major eastern battle; the
  Second Vermont Brigade which broke the right flank of Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg;
  the Battle of Cedar Creek, memorialized in the State House painting, in which more
  Vermont units were involved than in any other battle; and the Vermont-led attack that
  broke Confederate lines at Petersburg; and WHEREAS, the Confederate raid on St. Albans was the northernmost land action of the
  War, Vermont manufacturers provided large quantities of war material, including rifle-muskets,
  gun-making machinery, and wool for uniforms, and women worked tirelessly to provide
  the Vermont soldiers with necessary items at the front and in hospitals; and WHEREAS, Vermont’s Civil War story extends beyond the battlefields, to include places,
  sites and stories throughout the state that are vital to understanding the causes,
  consequences, and the human experience of the war, and its larger meaning in the context
  of freedom, civil rights, and national unity; and WHEREAS, educational opportunities will be available for residents and visitors to
  explore and celebrate Vermont’s rich Civil War resources, including many of the state’s
  most significant historic sites, village centers, and landscapes associated with the
  Underground Railroad and resistance to slavery, citizen mobilization, and profound
  social, economic, and demographic impact on Vermonters, soldiers and civilians alike,
  to provide a deep insight into the war’s causes, conduct, and long-term effects, and
  Vermonters will be given an opportunity to gather and share their community and individual
  discoveries of local Civil War history. NOW, THEREFORE, I, James H. Douglas, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor,
  do hereby order as follows: 1. The Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is hereby established to plan, coordinate
  and promote events and programs that will be held in Vermont in commemoration of the
  150th anniversary of the American Civil War. The Commission may sanction events to be
  included as part of the official statewide commemoration of the Sesquicentennial Anniversary
  of the Civil War. 2. The Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission shall be comprised of not more than
  14 members to include: the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing;
  the State Historic Preservation Officer; a representative of the Vermont Historical
  Society and a representative of the Vermont Humanities Council appointed by their
  respective governing Boards; and a representative from the University of Vermont appointed
  by the UVM President. Nine members shall be appointed by the Governor and shall include
  a Civil War historian, a member of a Civil War reenactment group, and a representative
  of a Vermont history museum. The Governor shall appoint a Chair from the membership
  to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Commission shall meet at the call of
  the Chair and at least quarterly. 3. The Commission shall coordinate, review and promote programs and activities throughout
  the state relating to the American Civil War, in particular Vermont’s involvement
  therein, to deepen the knowledge and understanding of this turning point in American
  history and how it has shaped and continues to shape who we are as a people, a state
  and a nation. 4. The Commission may create a nonprofit entity for the purposes of soliciting and accepting
  private donations and public funds, grants and donations in order to carry out its
  purposes. No funds may be disbursed unless recommended by a majority of the Commission
  and finally approved by the Chair. This Executive Order shall expire on December 31, 2015. Dated August 11, 2010.