The 19th Amendment - What An Achievement
Plus some other things you should know about today
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1. Today in 1920 the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing women’s right to vote. Lorton residents can be proud of the significant role the Lorton Reformatory played in the suffrage movement.
2. If you enjoy history and beautiful homes alike, take a tour of Woodlawn Estate, originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Tours begin at 10 a.m.
3. After 4:00 p.m. celebrate Family Fun Night with free admission at Pirates Cove Waterpark. The park is located on 6501 Pohick Bay Drive in Lorton. Come cool off with the kids before school starts.
4. Want a night out? At 7 p.m. Busboys and Poets in Shirlington is presenting the unique vocal stylings of Snughie Stocks and Sheila Nychole. Enjoy the music, food, drinks and atmosphere.
5. For all you fashionistas out there, Lifetime premiers include Project Runway at 10 p.m. and the series premiere of Models of the Runway at 11 p.m. Why not get the girls together?
Dick Kennedy
8:59 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Historical note on the 19th amendment It was passed by the House in 1918 by one vote more than the required two-thirds majority but failed twice in the Senate, by two- vote and one-vote margins. President Wilson then called a special session of Congress in May, 1919, and this time it passed the House by 42 votes and the Senate by 56-25. Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan were the first states to approve it, on June 10, 1919, and it was ratified when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it in August, 1920 (five months after the 35th state),
Virginia rejected the amendment in February, 1920, but eventually approved it in 1952--there is a little plaque in Occoquan Park commemorating the event. Other states that rejected it in 1920 but approved it later are Delaware, Maryland, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. South Carolina was the last state to approve it, in 1973.
Sally Spangler
1:14 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
Thank God women are allowed to vote. Men lost some of their "ownership" of women at that place in history. Too bad they can't understand that as a woman we also must work, think, lead, not only our families - in some cases without husbands, but provide leadership in all places of life.