Kaine Delivers Address At Appomattox Sesquicentennial

Press Release

Today, continuing his five-day swing through Virginia, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine traveled to Appomattox to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Speaking at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park's ceremony to recognize the anniversary, Kaine delivered a message of unity and the lessons our country can learn from the surrender.

"Is there any doubt that American leadership will be just as important in the future as it has been in the past?" said Kaine. "We are uniquely positioned to play a critical leadership role in addressing the many challenges that the world will face, but we must acknowledge that America cannot play the leadership role we are destined to play if we are divided against ourselves. That is the choice before us today as we think about the choice made here at this place 150 years ago."

In the Senate, Kaine has advocated for preserving Civil War sites in Virginia, recently introducing legislation to expand the Petersburg National Battlefield. At the end of last year, legislation Kaine introduced to reauthorize the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP) became law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015.

Following his address in Appomattox, Kaine traveled to Lynchburg where he met with local African-American leaders to discuss issues facing the community.

Tomorrow, Kaine will cap his five-day tour of the Commonwealth with stops in Hampton Roads.

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