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 150/ft/fh 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.