CHARLESTON, W.Va. – WV Secretary of State Kris Warner provided the keynote address for a special dedication that took place on Monday in Beckley, WV.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) hosted a dedication ceremony at the Veteran’s Section of the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley. The ceremony was scheduled to take place at 1 pm.
Because of the weather on Sunday night and the need to participate in a legislative hearing at the State Capitol on Monday afternoon, Secretary Warner was not able to attend the dedication ceremony. The ceremony still took place but was shortened and moved inside to the Veterans & First Responders Museum on Eisenhower Drive in Beckley.
The speech prepared by Secretary Warner will be made part of the official record of the dedication. The speech was read during the ceremony on the Secretary’s behalf by Raleigh County community leader Julie Kominsky.
DAR/SAR American Legion Cemetery Dedication
Veteran’s Section
200 Blair Street in Beckley, West Virginia
Ceremony Speech by WV Secretary of State Kris Warner
1:00pm February 17, 2025
Good afternoon Raleigh County Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution.
It is a great honor to stand before you — as our nation pauses today to celebrate the birth of George Washington, the Father of our Country.
The Virginian icon for whom this city was named, John Beckley, personally knew George Washington, was a dear friend of Thomas Jefferson, and worked closely with both James Madison and James Monroe. John Beckley is credited as one of the stalwarts working alongside Madison who got the Bill of Rights –the first ten amendments– added to our Constitution. As clerk of the US House of Representatives from 1802 to 1808, John Beckley was there to help move and bring into effect all the great efforts and initiatives of that remarkable republican from Monticello — Thomas Jefferson.
Right here in Beckley, we are steeped in the glorious history of this great country; it surrounds us, its echoes vibrate in our souls, its lessons inspire us, its momentum moves us.
Sir Roger Scruton once said this about history:
“We do not merely study the past: we inherit it, and inheritance brings with it not only the rights of ownership, but the duties of trusteeship. Things fought for and died for should not be idly squandered. For they are the property of others, who are not yet born.”
This is the bare, pure essence of conservatism. We not only possess and enjoy all that was given to us by our ancestors in western civilization, we are the trustees of that entire heritage. We stand on the shoulders of giants. What has been fought for, died for, and passed to us must be shepherded, protected, and passed intact to future generations.
Ronald Reagan sternly warned us about this charge we have to be the trustees of all that which we inherited:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
So, today we stand alongside Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, the American Legion, and the gravesites of veterans who served the cause of human freedom. The DAR, SAR, and American Legion are the great institutions who perpetuate and continually, persistently, doggedly remind us of our glorious history and the absolutely essential role of our military veterans in making this country what it is:
• The land of the free and home of the brave.
• Lincoln’s last great home of mankind.
• Winthrop’s City on the Hill.
• The beacon of liberty.
• The leader of the free world.
• The most powerful nation the world has ever seen.
250 years ago today, Colonel George Washington was planning his trip to Richmond where he would represent Fairfax County at the Virginia Convention in March 1775 — to decide on the colony’s position regarding the move towards independence from Great Britain. Colonel Andrew Lewis from this very region was also preparing to attend, as were other Founding Father icons Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, and Thomas Jefferson. These men would forge a new country. Several of our WV county names pay homage to these giants: Lewis, Randolph, Pendleton, Harrison, Jefferson.
The appeal from The October 1774 First Continental Congress to King George III that Parliament respect the “rights of all Englishmen” amongst His Majesty’s colonists in America had been haughtily rebuffed and rejected. The question being posed was “what do we do now?” Many wanted to negotiate further; others were ready to make the bold, incredible step to declare independence from the greatest power on Earth.
What would the most populous and influential colony’s –Virginia’s– position be at the Second Continental Congress — scheduled to meet in Philadelphia in May?
On March 23rd, 1775, Patrick Henry rose in the evenly divided chamber meeting at St John’s Church and delivered his “Give me Liberty or give me death” speech. The aroused assembly voted to move towards independence, a delegation was chosen, and George Washington was named to go to Philadelphia as a representative from Virginia. One month later, April 19th, the “shot heard ‘round the world” rang out in Lexington, Massachusetts; The siege of Boston was on. The next month, on May 10th, the Second Continental Congress convened. The next month, on June 14th, the Continental Army was created by Congress. The very next day, George Washington was named commander of the Army, taking charge of the Army and militia surrounding the British Army on the high ground around Boston.
The world would never be the same. Over the next seven years The United States of America would be created by force of arms under the leadership of a fellow Virginian, General George Washington, whose birthday we celebrate today.
The DAR, SAR, and the American Legion will never let us forget what made it possible for us to be here. We thank them for all they do to perpetuate this great Republic.
May God continue to bless you and the United States of America.
Kris Warner
WV Secretary of State
Kris E. Warner is a lifelong entrepreneur and small business owner. Prior to being elected to serve as West Virginia’s 31st Secretary of State, Secretary Warner served as the Executive Director of the WV Economic Development Authority. He and his wife, Joyce, are residents of Kanawha County. They are the parents of five children – two sons and three daughters – all five of whom have attended or are attending the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.
