Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – December 3, 2019

As we celebrated Thanksgiving last week, I am forever grateful to the residents of the Sixth District for putting their trust in me to serve as their representative in Washington. While many believe that the first Thanksgiving was observed in Massachusetts, as proud Virginians, we know that it was in fact celebrated right here in our Commonwealth at the very inception of our nation. We are blessed to live in a country that affords every citizen the opportunity to succeed, and we must always remember those that came before us who made the endeavor that is the story of American possible.

Thanksgiving:

“We ordain that this day of our ships arrival, at the place assigned for plantation, in the land of Virginia, shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

The above prayer was recited on December 4, 1619, not in Plymouth, Massachusetts but at Berkley Plantation, Virginia just over a year before the meal in Plymouth took place. The settlers who landed at Berkley were a small religious-minded group who decided that annually they would celebrate their successful and safe voyage from England with prayer.

This thousand-acre property, in what is modern day Charles City County, Virginia, is the sight of the true first English Thanksgiving in the New World. When President John F. Kennedy issued the Thanksgiving proclamation in 1962, he failed to acknowledge Virginia’s role in establishing the holiday. After a hearing from a Virginia Senator, Kennedy acknowledged that “over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and Massachusetts, far from home, in a lonely wilderness set aside a time of Thanksgiving.”

Roanoke Rescue Mission:
The Roanoke Rescue Mission has been dedicated to providing assistance to individuals and families in need since 1948. Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Mission and serve meals to those seeking the Mission’s services. On any given night, the Roanoke Rescue Mission’s dedicated staff and volunteers provide emergency shelter for nearly 300 men, women, and children, serve nearly 200 meals, and offer an addiction recovery program. This holiday season, let us all take time to lend a hand to those in need and spur hope of a better tomorrow. Thank you, Roanoke Rescue Mission, for your tireless efforts and continued commitment to our community.

Turkey and the Sixth District:

Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District is the largest agriculture producing district in the Commonwealth, and its turkey production plays an integral part in that equation. In the Sixth District alone, the turkey industry employs 5,472 people.

Further, the turkey industry in the Sixth District has an economic impact of almost $1.49 billion. This number comes not only from the direct output of the agriculture community, but also includes the indirect economic benefit to the trucking, banking, real estate, accounting, and even printing industries.

Rockingham County has hundreds of turkey farms and was once known as the Turkey Capital of the World. In the 1920s, a man named Charles Wampler, Sr. successfully incubated turkey eggs and raised turkeys in confinement, which set the stage for the modern turkey industry. If driving into the county from the north or south on Route 11, one will see large bronze turkey statues that were erected in the 1950s.

When Congress Returns:

This week, the Judiciary Committee will be tasked with continuing the impeachment inquiry against President Trump. I look forward to finally addressing this inquiry in the only committee that actually has jurisdiction over this process so that, once completed, Congress can move forward and focus on the important issues facing Virginia’s Sixth District. We must begin to address our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, securing our borders, passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, and work to lower prescription drug prices.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.

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