Freedom has roots in county

The pursuit of liberty--in all its many forms--is intertwined with Stafford County's past and present.

FREDERICKSBURG FREE LANCE-STAR

LEE WOOLF
Lee Woolf's archive

Date published: 10/30/2002

FROM THE EARLIEST Indians to modern-day commuters, residents of Stafford have had a special attachment to the concept of freedom, according to Dr. James Bryant.

But Bryant said the county's history is full of stories of triumph and tragedy because the goal of freedom--in all its many facets--often has brought groups of residents into conflict.

Bryant is a former historian with the National Park Service who now is an assistant professor of history at Shenandoah University in Winchester. He spoke on the ways in which freedom has become intertwined with our past and present in a lecture titled "Stafford County as a Flagship of Freedom" at a recent meeting of the Stafford County Historical Society.

"Stafford has been a flagship through times of war and peace," said Bryant. "Freedom has been cultivated and practiced in Stafford and continues to flourish.

COMPLETE TEXT at:

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2002/102002/10302002/766842