#OTD 250 years ago, May 21, 1775, in the aftermath of Lexington & Concord and from the 2nd Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee wrote a letter to his brother Francis Lightfoot Lee reporting on war readiness in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. He concluded they were "well prepared" and "secure against any Force likely to be sent against them," but also expressed worry that "the Southern Colonies [are] alone vulnerable at present." At the 2nd Virginia Convention in March 1775, Richard Henry supported Patrick Henry's resolution to put Virginia "into a posture of Defence" by "arming, and disciplining such a Number of Men as may be sufficient for that purpose.," but in May the Colony wasn't yet ready. Just over a year later, Richard Henry Lee, acting on the instructions of the 5th Virginia Convention, would give his resolution “that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states” and “dissolve all political connection” between them and Great Britain. To learn more about the Lee Resolution, join us June 7th: https://www.simpletix.com/e/virginia-resolved-a-commemoration-of-indep-tickets-207568 #StratfordHall #OnThisDate #History #VAHistory #VA250 #America250 #NorthernNeck #NNK #AmericanRevolution (fb)

As many students and teachers are celebrating the last days of classes, we are celebrating the donors who make free school field trips possible for our community. Many thanks to the donors who contributed more than $21,000 through the paddle raiser at this year’s Oyster Roast & Auction to support free and immersive school field trips for local students. As the home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence and other revolutionaries, Stratford Hall is uniquely positioned to offer students meaningful experiences to help discover America’s history in new and exciting ways in advance of our nation’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. Students will carry lessons learned and fond memories of their visit to Stratford Hall with them for a lifetime, thanks to these gifts. Teachers interested in scheduling a class field trip for the 2025-2026 school year should contact info@stratfordhall.org. Pictured are students who recently visited Stratford Hall on a school field trip. Photo credit: Kimberly A King Photography. #StratfordHall #VA250 #America250 #NorthernNeck #NNK #SchoolFieldTrips #History #VAHistory (fb)