Richland street names provide historical tool

It’s taken a few days to collect my thoughts regarding the suggestion the historical marker on Lee Boulevard in Richland be removed.

In light of the horrific events in Charlottesville, Va. — in which the city’s decision to remove a statue of General Robert E. Lee resulted in violent protests, counter-protests, deaths and injuries — Martin McBriarty of Richland now has questioned why we have a street also named after Lee.

He appears to be acting in accordance with current events throughout the U.S., without concern for the very basis of which this community was founded.

As the founder of The Historic Streets Project, a descendant of parents who worked on the Manhattan Project, and who has thoroughly researched the history and culture of Richland, I would offer a perspective that represents Richland’s multi-generational residents who are passionate about the history of their city.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn’t arbitrarily pick U.S. military personnel out of a hat to name Richland streets.

All the names selected were chosen for their contribution to American history and have become part of this city’s soul.

In August 2011, the city of Richland published “Behind the Name — Richland Streets of the Manhattan Engineering District and How They Got Their Names.”

When this book was printed, there were 59 streets with no biography. In September 2011, extensive research began into the history of the remaining street names and to document their histories publicly on street markers.

The first marker was placed December 2011 and by January 2013 the project was complete with 205 signs in place.

Thanks to West Point Military Academy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers History Department in Alexandria, Va., plus 62 other sources, every marker has an accurate, brief and unbiased biographical history.

The intent of this project is to preserve the history of our beloved city and to provide an educational tool for future generations. Pieces of American history have been placed on our streets for posterity, and each marker represents a period of time where there were trials and tribulation — including victories and losses.

Silencing the facts is an attempt to change the unchangeable. We can’t rewrite history. We must learn from it or, as essayist George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The Lee Boulevard marker provides an abridged glimpse of General Robert E. Lee, who served in the U.S. military for 30-plus years.

It provides us with a piece of American history to help us better understand our past. Remember, General Lee’s estate is now Arlington Cemetery, the burial place of over 400,000 heroic people since the 1860’s.

All history matters.

This story was originally published August 25, 2017 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Richland street names provide historical tool."