Thursday, January 2, 2025 Good morning! On this day in 1781, the Commonwealth agreed to give up claims on northwestern lands. However, the agreement included conditions that Congress initially rejected. It took more than two years to finalize the terms, culminating in the passage of the Virginia Act of Cession.  Welcome to an abbreviated holiday […]

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 Happy New Year! On this day in 1776, British warships fired on Norfolk, and Redcoats came ashore to burn buildings along the waterfront. Patriots also set fire to buildings because they didn’t think they had enough troops to defend the city, which was mostly destroyed. Happy New Year from The Virginia Flyover! […]

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1862, the Commonwealth got smaller. Amid the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill admitting West Virginia to the Union. Statehood would be achieved after the residents of the new state adopted a constitution that provided for the gradual emancipation of slaves.  Did you […]

Monday, December 30, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1831, residents of Loudoun County put out a resolution that called for the emancipation of the state’s black population. It stated, in part, “the continuation of slavery is forbidden by the true policy of Virginia, repugnant to her political theory and Christian professions.” As 2024 […]

Friday, December 27, 2024 Good Morning! On this day in 1776, Gen. George Washington sent a letter to the Continental Congress describing his Christmas Day victory over the Hessians in a surprise attack at Trenton. “Our loss is very trifling indeed, only two officers and one or two privates wounded,” he wrote. We are gearing […]

Wednesday, December 25, 2024 Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! On this day in 1607, settlers at Jamestown celebrated the first Christmas in English North America. The festivities were low-key, as the settlers were barely surviving their first winter. Still, they gave praise to God from their new country.   We are enjoying time this holiday […]

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1783, George Washington arrived at Mount Vernon as a private citizen after riding home from Annapolis, where he had resigned his commission the day before. It was his first Christmas on his estate in eight years. Merry Christmas from The Virginia Flyover. Be sure to scroll […]

Monday, December 23, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1783, Gen. George Washington resigned his commission as the head of the American army. Washington waited in New York until the final British occupiers had withdrawn from American soil, then traveled to Annapolis to attend a meeting of the Continental Congress and announce he was […]

Friday, December 20, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1861, Confederate Gen. J. E. B. Stuart led about 150 cavalry troops against Union Brig. Gen. Ord’s soldiers near Dranesville. Stuart withdrew after a two-hour clash, marking the first time a Union force caused a Confederate group to retreat. In The Virginia Flyover today, find […]

Thursday, December 19, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1777, George Washington and his army marched into their winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Despite the British occupation of nearby Philadelphia, Washington and his men remained confident they could prevail.  The state police want you to beware of a new phone scam. We have […]