LEXINGTON, Va. – A petition was filed Thursday in an effort to stop the renaming of Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Lexington. Here are the final four options: Unity Cemetery of Lexington, Oak Grove Cemetery of Lexington, Main Street Cemetery of Lexington and Lexington Memorial Cemetery. The attached comments and petition are hereby officially submitted for the City Council & City Attorney to review, accept and acknowledge. To date: 8/6/2020 we have 5,411 individuals who oppose the renaming of the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. It is also being sought out that Stonewall Jackson is federally protected because Stonewall is a veteran and is protected by the Veterans Administration.

During a Thursday night meeting, the Lexington City Council voted unanimously, 6-0, to change the name of Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. I suppose they’ll rename it something like ‘Lexington Cemetery: Now with Surprise Inside!' On April 1, 1949, the cemetery was conveyed to the city by the Lexington Presbyterian Church, according to City Manager Jim Halasz. On May 5 of that year, the council approved an ordinance accepting the conveyance, trust and naming the cemetery as the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. The city council, which met until 1:30 a.m. Friday said it will now take online input from city residents for possible new names.