VA General Assembly Holds Joint Session at Capitol

Every four years, the Virginia General Assembly visits Williamsburg and holds a Joint Session at Colonial Williamsburg’s Capitol. This year, I was able to participate in the event.

Those of you who have read my blogs know that I have two passions in my life—politics and history. I am that person who refreshes election results online every five minutes and treats election night as if it were a sporting event. I love public policy and government, and I currently serve as Gen. George Washington’s National Field Director for Colonial Williamsburg’s It Starts Here campaign. The campaign takes our George Washington out on the presidential campaign trail to promote civic participation.

This was my first year being able to attend the Joint Session at the Capitol and I was so excited. Every four years since 1934 lawmakers have traveled from Richmond to Williamsburg for a Joint Session of Assembly. Each commemorative session features an address on an issue facing the Commonwealth, the United States, or the world.

At the very first session, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. gave the address and lawmakers passed legislation to hold future assemblies at the Capitol.

Virginia lawmakers and their guests made their way Saturday afternoon from the Williamsburg Lodge to the Capitol building. The event began with separate sessions before the two houses combined to hold their Joint Session of Assembly in the Hall of the House of Burgesses. Colonial Williamsburg President and CEO Mitchell B. Reiss greeted the General Assembly with remarks followed by this year’s address titled “In the beginning was Virginia, and Virginia led” by William & Mary President Taylor Reveley.

Reveley’s address received a standing ovation from the entire room.

After the ceremony, I was able to meet former Virginia governor and current presidential candidate Jim Gilmore, marking the sixth presidential candidate I’ve been in contact with since we began our It Starts Here campaign. Members of the General Assembly and their guests then headed to the Duke of Gloucester Street for a special performance of Colonial Williamsburg’s “Dissolving the House of Burgesses.”

I’m already looking forward to the next session in four years!