Show BIRTH OF A NATION Pilgrimage Honors Cape Henry Landing features NORFOLK VA VAIn In In the picturesque setting of Cape Henrys Henry's sand dunes close by where ere the waters of the Chesapeake peake meet those of oi the Atlantic Virginians assembled last week-end week to pay their respects to the memory of those pio pi plo plo- of the London company who on April 26 1607 landed at Cape Henry and gave thanks to God for their safe crossing to the new world This historic event occurred 17 days before the pilgrims sighted the marshes mars es of Jamestown island Patriotic and religious services service were combined In the annual Cape Henry pilgrimage pilgrimage- which wa was led by Gov William M Tuck Tu and nd Mr Mrs Mra Tuck During Durin th the th the century honored th the nth and what Governor Tuck in hi his annual Cape Henry Day proclamation de de- de described scribed as that tha t gallant band of 01 Englishmen whose heroism and d faith resulted In the firm establish establish- ment went of 01 our nation and to whom we owe a debt of at everlasting gratitude for tor th the establishment of d dour our nation and freedom Cross Cro Marks Site Principal feature tea ture of ot the pilgrims pilgrim age ace was wan a Protestant Episcopal service at the has base bue of the granite ero cross which mark marks th the sit site lite of th the first landing The n service was con con- co conducted ducted by the Rt Rev William A A Brown of at Portsmouth bishop of ot the Episcopal diocese of 01 southern Vir Vir- Virginia ginia with W Ludwell Baldwin of ot Norfolk acting as aa master meater of ot cere cere- ceremonies ceremonies monies In addition to Governor and Mrs Mr Tuck other distinguished guests guest included Sen Harry Flood Byrd who with Mrs Byrd a as th the then governor and first lady lad of Vir Vic VircInIa ginia led the first organized Cape Henry pilgrimage in 1926 1920 The pilgrimage is under sponsor sponsor- sponsorship ship of 01 the Ordet Order of ot Cape Henry 1607 of at which Mrs Mr Frantz Naylor of Norfolk la president and end the As As- As Assembly embly of ot Tidewater Virginia but Cape rape Henry Day has haa the effect of ot otIe law Ie w In Virginia for tor the general as a an- an embly of 01 1940 1114 by Joint resolution April 23 26 officially as a that day Virginias Virginia's governor traditionally leads th the pilgrimage but interest In It goes 01 beyond the boundaries of theOld th the theOld Old Dominion Herbert Hoover as President of at th the United States Sta te made the pilgrimage In 1931 and ex ex- ex- ex expressed pressed th the opinion that the pilgrim pilgrim- pilgrimage age ae makes a notable contribution to the maintenance of On fine American tradition Mr Hoover Incidentally received a drenching on OD that occasion when a sudden udden squall unroofed the stand on which he was wan tested seated and th the President dent dent in company with a number of 01 other pilgrims found refuge in the little Cape Henry railroad station close dose by Area Pre Franklin D Roosevelt In 1939 1935 III described the pilgrimage as unique In hi its Ita significance for tor there are blended traits trait that conquer con con- conquer quer the will to dare and the will to endure The following year Mr Roosevelt described himself as glad to learn of ot another pilgrimage in honor of ot the landing of ot th the first per per- permanent manent English colonists colonist on Amer Amer- AmerIcan ican soil oll The late Presidents President's word words with reference to the landing ef f the fIrt permanent English col col- miste onist that America ha has baa been wrong In honoring Jamestown rather than Cape Henry as M the place where the Colony COlon of or Virginia and with It speaking English America be be- be rail gab This Thi 1 I is supported by the argument of W a Ii T Squires the Virginia historian who cite cites evidence of the unsealing of ot the royal box on the deck of ot the Sarah Sarab Constant off oft Cap Cape Henry April 26 28 Cites Cite Evidence With th the breaking of 01 th the seal seal- royal and the appointment of the royal roal council and the law Jaw laws ordained by the charter and rule rules of 01 the Lon Lon- London London don company Virginia wa wen was born born says Squires I have always con con- contended contended tended that the colony wa was waa not born bornat bornat at Jamestown May 13 or 14 but at Cape Henry April 26 1607 1807 That nat natla Thatis I la is the correct time Ume place and cir clr- dr Ther There the charter became the vital Instrument of ot the new nation nations nation's life On the eventful day in question 28 26 or SO 30 adventurers from the Sarah Constant Godspeed and Discovery I went ashore and took possession of ot I th the new land for tor God and but king king but first for tor God God and led by the saintly I Robert Hunt Hunt their youthful clergy deru- clergyman man there held a service of ot praise and thanksgiving for tor th the peace and calm catro of 01 the good land of Virginia after atter their perilous voyage VOllee of 01 four lour months across uncharted seas One report has haa It that when the party moved on to Jamestown 10 senti nels were left lett behind an action which tf N true gives Cap Henry with with- without out question que priority over James James- Jamestown town In ID Historical Park Part Cape Henry by an act of ot con con- conre congress gress re in 1938 Is In the Colonial Na Na- Na National Historical park which also embraces Jamestown Yorktown and Williamsburg The cap cape Is ts on the reservation of the army's Fort Story and the cross before which th the servo service ice is la I conducted is I situated on a asand sand and dune which was designated In 1934 by the war department as the first landing dune The cross was wu erected In 1935 by th the national so so- so society society Daughters of the American Colonists On it appears an n im Non tion written by James Jame Branch Ca- Ca Cabell Cabell Cabell bell bell distinguished American novel novel- 1st 1st which reads Here at Cape Henry first landed in America upon 26 20 April 1607 thos those English colon colon- lots who upon May 1607 1007 established at Jamestown Virginia th the tint first permanent English settlement in America Close by is th the first lighthouse erected by the United States State govern lOvern- government ment men and on that lighthouse 1 la a I tablet which reads read Near Ner this thi spot pot 1 landed April 26 1607 Captain Ga Ga- Ga Gabriel Gabriel briel Archer Christopher Newport Hon George S Percy Bartholomew Gosnold Edward Maria Marla Wingfield with 25 others who calling the place Cape Ca pe Henry planted a cros cross April 29 1607 Del gratia gratis Virginia CondIta This tablet Is erected by br th the aNon for Preservation of Virginia Antiquities April 29 1698 1896 |