[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E623-E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SUPPORT FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF THE ARLINGTON HOUSE ESTATE FOR 
                             REDESIGNATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2023

  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, to accompany the introduction of H.J. Res. 
76, I am including in the Record statements and letters of support for 
the Redesignation of Arlington House from the descendants of the 
estate.

       Congressman Beyer: I am writing to express my support for 
     the redesignation of the National Park Service site currently 
     known as `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial' as the 
     `Arlington House National Historic Site.'
       The memorial to Lee was established in two pieces of 
     legislation 18 years apart. Public Law 84-1071, passed in 
     June 1955, dedicated the memorial and stated that ``Lee, 
     whose name will ever be bright in our history as a great 
     military leader, a great educator, and a great American.'' It 
     went on to say that ``he was a truly great man through the 
     simple heritage of his personal traits of high character, his 
     grandeur of soul, and his unfailing strength of heart.'' The 
     1972 legislation established public law 92-333 which gave the 
     site its current name, `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee 
     Memorial'.
       I continue believe this redesignation is long overdue. The 
     name Arlington House National Historic Site is not only 
     inclusive, it is consistent with how the National Park 
     Service manages and interprets this iconic, historic 
     property.
       I am a descendant and historian of the Syphax family. 
     Syphaxes were enslaved on the Arlington House plantation by 
     both Robert E. Lee and George Washington Parke Custis before 
     him. Although I disagree with how the earlier legislation 
     characterizes Lee, I disparage neither Lee nor the Custises. 
     I do, however, work hard to give agency to the Syphaxes and 
     all of the Arlington House plantation enslaved community. 
     Their lives and stories are equally as important to the 
     history of this site as is those who enslaved them. Their 
     stories are educational, inspiring and uplifting. Their 
     stories are intertwined with the Lees and Custises. The 
     stories and history told completely can help our country 
     better understand slavery at the Arlington House plantation 
     and have the ability to help generate important and necessary 
     conversations that can help repair and heal from a painful, 
     divisive past.
       This redesignation is important to the entire country, not 
     just Arlington House descendant families, the state of 
     Virginia and Washington, D.C. It is important to all 
     Americans. During the short time our on line petition 
     (RedesignateARHO.org) has been collecting signatures, 
     citizens from every state in the country and 9 other nations 
     have expressed their support for the site redesignation.
       I live in Loudoun County, VA. I intend to share this 
     message with my own elected officials. Your colleague, 
     Representative Jennifer Wexton, and Senator Tim Kaine, have 
     both co-sponsored and sponsored legislation in the House and 
     Senate, respectively. In addition, I will attempt to seek the 
     support of Senator Mark Warner as a co-sponsor of the Senate 
     legislation.
       Thank you again Congressman Beyer for your leadership on 
     this effort. Please don't hesitate to call on me if you would 
     like to discuss this legislation further or I can help in 
     some way.
           Respectfully,
                                               Stephen E. Hammond.
                                  ____
                                  
       Representative Don Beyer: I am writing in support of the 
     legislation you plan to introduce to change the name of 
     `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial' to the more 
     neutral `Arlington House, National Historic Site.'
       The name `Arlington House, National Historic Site' is much 
     more appropriate, accurate, inclusive, and consistent with 
     how the National Park Service manages and interprets historic 
     properties.
       As a direct descendant of George Washington Parke Custis 
     and the great-granddaughter of Robert E. Lee. I own over 100 
     artifacts currently on display in the mansion and the 
     museum--portraits, furniture, silver, documents, and 
     ephemera. It has always been important to my branch of the 
     Custis/Lee family to maintain close ties to Arlington House, 
     despite our tragic history. Over the last 100 years, we have 
     sought to provide a context for learning about the 
     complicated history of the estate, in the hopes that visitors 
     will be able to experience the house as more than just a 
     mausoleum.
       With the generous grant from David Rubenstein, the National 
     Park Service has been able to update their interpretation of 
     the site to include the perspectives of the enslaved who 
     built and worked the plantation. The work that has been done 
     here has been exemplary, and other institutions have taken 
     note.
       I have also been a member of the Family Circle of 
     descendants of the enslaved and enslavers for more than a 
     year, and although I was prevented from attending the reunion 
     in April by health issues, I have found the group to be 
     inspiring in these dark days of American politics. We can use 
     as much thoughtful conversation and reconciliation as 
     possible, and the group has proved to be a model for others 
     who are trying to understand why some of our country's oldest 
     wounds have never healed.
       As other descendants have pointed out, this redesignation 
     is important to the entire country and all Americans. In my 
     opinion, this property should never have been named a 
     memorial to Robert E. Lee in the first place--the 1972 
     legislation is directly related to the cult of the Lost Cause 
     and should be seen as political backlash to desegregation. As 
     Ty Seidule has pointed out in his important study, Robert E. 
     Lee and Me, names matter, and this change is long overdue.
       Thank you again for your efforts. Please do not hesitate to 
     call on me if you would like to discuss further.
           Sincerely yours,
                                                  Dr. Susan Vogel.
                                  ____
                                  
       Representative Don Beyer: I am writing in support of the 
     legislation you introduced to change the name of the 
     `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial' to the 
     `Arlington House National Historic Site.'
       As a descendant of the Lee family, I was present at the 
     recent Family Reunion, Finding our Voice, at Arlington House, 
     in April of this year. I was very happy to see you there, 
     supporting the redesignation to better reflect all the 
     residents who lived at both Arlington House and at Arlington 
     Plantation. It was a very moving day.
       My direct ancestor, Richard Bland Lee, Robert E. Lee's 
     uncle, was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 
     Loudoun County from 1796-1797. His enslaved people built and 
     ran Sully Plantation, which is now called Sully Historic 
     Site, in Chantilly, Virginia. I am glad it is no longer 
     called Sully Plantation, and instead called a Historic Site. 
     The same could be true for Arlington House.
       Thank you again for your efforts. Please don't hesitate to 
     call on me if you would like to discuss this further.
                                               Sarah Tarr Fleming.
                                  ____
                                  
       Dear Congressman Beyer: I am writing to express my support 
     for redesignation of the National Park Service site currently 
     known as `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial' as the 
     `Arlington House National Historic Site'.
       I am a direct descendant of both George Washington Parke 
     Custis and Robert E. Lee and have been working with the 
     National Park Service, Lee descendants and descendants of the 
     enslaved people at Arlington to review the exhibition 
     planning process. One of our most important goals is to 
     ensure that future exhibits and interpretation honor all of 
     the Arlington Family truths and narratives by including and 
     genuinely presenting ALL descendants' voices.
       Through this process, I have become acutely aware of the 
     intrinsic barriers that might deter individuals from having 
     any interest in visiting the site--the most obvious of these 
     being the current name of the plantation house that was 
     established in 1972. By representing itself as a memorial 
     to Robert E. Lee, Arlington House is omitting and 
     dismissing an incredibly significant part of it's history. 
     We, as Americans, have an opportunity--and more 
     importantly--a responsibility to change this.
                                                    Custis Glover.
                                  ____
                                  
       Congressman Beyer, I write to express my support for your 
     legislation to redesignate the Arlington House, the Robert E. 
     Lee Memorial in northern Virginia as the Arlington House 
     National Historic Site. I feel that the current name 
     glorifies a soldier who took up arms to maintain the 
     institution of slavery. This place is so much more than a Lee 
     Museum. Its name should reflect the lives of all who lived, 
     worked, and died there, both enslavers and enslaved.
       As a member of the Syphax family, my third great 
     grandmother, Maria Carter Custis, was enslaved at Arlington 
     House. She was the daughter of George Washington Parke 
     Custis, original builder of the plantation. Maria married 
     Charles Syphax in 1821 in the same parlor of the plantation 
     house ten years before her half-sister Mary Custis married 
     Robert E. Lee.
       Telling the factual story of Maria, as well as all who 
     labored there, would initiate a conversation about America's 
     past and hopefully be the first step toward healing a badly 
     divided nation.
       Arlington House National Historic Site could be an example 
     for other historic sites to present the complete, true 
     stories of eighteenth-century America. The time is right for 
     this legislation, and I heartily support it. I'm pleased that 
     you do too.

[[Page E624]]

       I live in Northridge, California. I have also written to my 
     elected officials: Representatives Mike Garcia, (CA-27) and 
     Brad Sherman (CA-32); and Senators Alex Padilla and Diane 
     Feinstein.
       Thank you for your leadership Congressman Beyer.
           Respectfully,
                                                     Donna Kunkel.
                                  ____
                                  
       Dear Senators Kaine and Warner: As a descendant of the 
     enslaved Caroline Branham (and most likely, George Washington 
     Parke Custis as well,) I have been in the process of turning 
     what was hidden family lore into a complicated and 
     fascinating history; one that encompasses the entire 
     communities of Arlington House and Mount Vernon.
       It is crucial to me, as an American, that the name of 
     Arlington House reflect the broad history of one of the most 
     popular destinations in the US, and not focus on the legacy 
     of--or be allowed to glorify--Robert E. Lee.
       Please support the name change legislation for Arlington 
     House.
           My most heartfelt thanks.
                                                   David C. Lucas.
                                  ____
                                  
       From Jocelind Julien: Thank you for this opportunity. Here 
     is my paragraph:
       ``As a descendant of Caroline Branham, who was enslaved at 
     Arlington and Mount Vernon, I fully support and call for the 
     removal of slave owner and Confederate General Robert E. 
     Lee's name from Arlington House. To have Lee's name on this 
     historic property, conjures horrific images of slavery and 
     brutality to those descendants of the enslaved at Arlington 
     House and beyond. To this day, there is a pain of association 
     that must be remedied. It is time to cut the slavery ties.''
           My best,
                                                         Jocelind.
                                  ____
                                  
       From Tamara Moore: James Parks was born in 1843 on the 
     Arlington estate. After his freedom at 19 years of age, he 
     continued to live, work and finally transitioned into 
     eternity on August 1929. As a part of the descendants group, 
     we endorse the legislation being sponsored to change the name 
     so that it accurately reflects the numerous families that 
     were essential to the Arlington House community. James Parks 
     was honored for his service by the Assistant Secretary of War 
     in 1928 with approval to be buried with full military honors 
     at Arlington Cemetery. As a part of this group, it is amazing 
     that the descendants are able to connect and share the many 
     family stories that began over 150 years ago.
                                  ____
                                  
       To Whom It May Concern: As an Arlington House and Decatur 
     House slave descendant (Syphax family), I've long-since given 
     my complete approval to the effort to change the Arlington 
     House name from its present form to ``Arlington House'' 
     simply. My approval comes from an appreciation of the idea 
     that doing this would make the name more inclusive. I note 
     that members of the Lee family agree with my fellow slave 
     descendants regarding this. Given the high level of 
     visitorship at Arlington House, the name change will likely 
     have a broad and thought-provoking effect. The National Park 
     Service has already done a great deal to make inclusiveness 
     at Arlington House real. It's time to do the same with name.
                                              Kenneth D.M. Jensen,
                                                 Oakton, Virginia.
                                  ____
                                  
       To Representative Don Beyer: I am writing in support of the 
     legislation you introduced to change the name of the 
     `Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial' to the 
     `Arlington House National Historic Site.'
       As a descendant of the Lee family, I was present at the 
     recent Family Reunion, Finding our Voice, at Arlington House, 
     in April of this year. I was very happy to see you there, 
     supporting the redesignation to better reflect all the 
     residents who lived at both Arlington House and at Arlington 
     Plantation. It was a very moving day because of the warm 
     reception of the descendants of those our family enslaved. 
     The hugs and conversations enriched the weekend for my 
     husband and myself, our daughter Sarah and her then 10 year 
     old Margaret. Margaret and Sarah also read aloud the names of 
     the ancestors of the enslaved and then gave a report at 
     school.
       My direct ancestor, Richard Bland Lee, Robert E. Lee's 
     uncle, was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 
     Loudoun County from 1796-1797. His enslaved people built and 
     ran Sully Plantation, which is now called Sully Historic 
     Site, in Chantilly, Virginia. I am glad it is no longer 
     called Sully Plantation, and instead called a Historic Site. 
     The same could be true for Arlington House.
       Thank you again for your efforts. Please don't hesitate to 
     call on me if you would like to discuss this further.
                                        Mary Lee Fleming Kowalski.
                                  ____
                                  
       Quote from NPR story: ``I am Gen. Lee's great-great-
     grandson, and I am Robert E. Lee the Fifth. I don't feel like 
     we're taking the name away,'' says Rob Lee. ``I think when 
     you call it the Arlington House, you're just opening it up to 
     more of the families who lived there, honestly. And I think 
     it's just more appropriate.''
                                  ____
                                  
       Dear Congressman Beyer: I strongly support legislation to 
     redesignate ``Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial'' 
     as ``the Arlington House National Historic Site.'' I am a 
     descendant of the Lee family of Virginia.
       Like other Lee/Custis descendants, I view this change not 
     as a repudiation of my ancestors who lived at Arlington 
     House, but as a far more accurate representation of this 
     historic place and its scores of other residents--who 
     literally built the house, cleared the land for agriculture 
     and then maintained it all. They were skilled artisans, 
     farmers, seamstresses, nannies, cooks, and experts at 
     backbreaking labor. The imprint of these enslaved workers is 
     on every inch of the property; without them, it would not 
     exist. Redesignating their home as a National Historic Site 
     will invite and welcome THEIR descendants, who, it must be 
     acknowledged, cannot feel welcome at a place that honors only 
     their great great grandparents' enslaver. Intaking this 
     action, we are being true to the most basic morals and values 
     of our country.
       Congressman Beyer: I am deeply grateful to you for your 
     support, and your commitment to this effort. I am contacting 
     my North Carolina representatives, Senator Thom Tillis, 
     Senator Ted Budd and House Representative David Rouzer, 
     hoping they will join you in supporting this legislation.
           With my sincere thanks,
     Leni Fleming.

                          ____________________