CHAPTER 335

An Act to create a commission to commemorate the centennial of the
American Civil War; to provide for the selection and terms of office
of the members of such commission; to provide for the duties and
powers of such commission; and to appropriate funds for the use of
such commission. tH 8]

Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. It is just and right that the people of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, remembering the valor and sacrifice of its sons, who fought and
died for principles which they believed eternal, and the sons of other states
who also made the Supreme sacrifice for their convictions, should com-
memorate the 100th anniversary of the War Between the States. It is fur-
ther declared that it shall be the policy of the State to perpetuate a knowl-
edge of the deeds and traditions of a valiant people, who through the
terrible ordeals of a great war, forged one nation, undivided, under God.
To that end there shall be a proper observance throughout Virginia, the
great battlefield of the Civil War, of the years that wrote their history in
the blood of our nation, and in its observance, to take those actions which
will assure the adequate marking of all those fields of bravery so they will
endure in the understanding and memory of the people of our Common-
wealth and those who visit with us.

§ 2. There is hereby created the Virginia Civil War Commission to
commemorate the centennial of the American Civil War, hereafter referred
to as the “Commission”. The Commission shall be composed of seventeen
members including the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of Delegates, who shall be ex officio members of the
Commission. The other members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) Eight members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Delegates from the membership thereof ;

(2) Four members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate
from the membership thereof; and

' ia Five members shall be appointed by the Governor from the State
a ze,
All members shall be appointed for terms to expire December thirty-
one, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, and vacancies shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointments were made. The Commission
shall name five of its members to constitute an executive committee, which
shall act for the Commission pursuant to its direction.

§ 8. The Commission may appoint honorary members, and shall
establish an Advisory Council, composed of such persons as it deems espe-
cially interested in the celebration of the centennial of the Civil War, to
assist it in its work. The Librarian of the Virginia State Library shall be
a member of said Council.

§ 4. The Commission shall employ an executive director and such
other assistants when they may be required.

§ 5. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop and coordinate
the plans of the public and private agencies for commemorating the one
hundredth anniversary of the Civil War. All agencies of the State and all
political subdivisions are authorized to cooperate with the Commission
and to grant funds, property and services to it for the furtherance of the
commemoration.

_ § 6. With the consent of the Governor first obtained, the Commis-
sion may lease or purchase lands, property and structures deemed neces-
sary for the purposes of such commemoration. The title to property
acquired shall be taken in the name of the Commonwealth.

§ 7. The Commission is authorized to enter into contracts, provided
the same have been approved by the Attorney General, and to do all things
proper and necessary for the proper commemoration of the events in the
Civil War which occurred in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Com-
mission shall give especial attention to the further preservation and devel-
opment of battlefields and sites, and the graphic marking thereof, at such
time and in such manner as will insure that a fitting observance may be
held at each such battlefield or site in the Commonwealth of Virginia as
its centennial occurs during the period nineteen hundred sixty-one through
nineteen hundred sixty-five.

§ 8. The Commission is empowered to adopt an official flag, seal,
and other emblems for such celebration, and to copyright the same in the
name of the Commonwealth. With the approval of the Governor, the Com-
mission may lease or sell the title to the use of such seal and other emblems
upon such terms and conditions as seem proper.

§ 9. In the lease or sale of any property or right of use, the Com-
mission shall provide that the revenues therefrom shall be paid into the
State Treasury to the credit of the Commission and they are hereby re-
appropriated to the Commission for its purposes. The Commission is
authorized to accept donations of money, property, or personal services; to
cooperate with the United States, State, civic, patriotic and historical
groups, and with the institutions of learning.

§ 10. The Governor is authorized and requested to issue proclama-
tions inviting the people of the Commonwealth and of the United States
to participate in and observe the centennial anniversaries of the significant
historic events, the commemorations of which are provided for herein.

§ 11. The members of the Commission and Advisory Council shall

serve without compensation, but shall receive their actual traveling ex-
penses incident to the discharge of their duties as provided for herein.
; 12. A report shall be submitted to the General Assembly, present-
ing the preliminary plans of the Commission, not later than October one,
nineteen hundred fifty-nine. Thereafter, an annual report of the activities
of the Commission shall be furnished by the Commission to the Governor
and General Assembly.

§ 18. There is hereby appropriated to the Commission from the
general funds in the State Treasury the sum of twenty-five thousand dol-
lars for each year of the biennium beginning July one, nineteen hundred
and fifty-eight, for the expenses and operation of the Commission. Any
unexpended balance from the first year of the biennium shall be available
to the Commission for expenditures in the second year of the biennium.