President Obama has never waivered on his outlook for the USA economy. He stated from the beginning the recovery would find victory in small attempts to restore jobs. While the car companies have been a victory for his administration, the fact that he seeks every opportunity of his Presidency to return the American economy to function is exampled by Fort Monroe. I don't know why the military was removed from the fort in 2005, the history is far too important. Fort Monroe stands as a symbol of our human rights commitment, the freedom of all people and the longing for the USA to have all people created equal. It is a valuable historic site and should have been preserved as such long ago.
...Using his authority (click title to entry - thank you) under a century-old law, Obama signed a proclamation designating Fort Monroe a national monument. That saves it from major development and preserves its history for generations.
At a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Obama said the fort had played a "remarkable role in the history of our nation." He said he looked forward to visiting and taking daughters Malia and Sasha along to "get a sense of their history."
The fort and the land it sits on are historically significant because it was where Dutch traders first brought enslaved Africans in 1619. It remained in Union possession during the Civil War and became a place where escaped slaves could find refuge. Confederate President Jefferson Davis also was imprisoned there after the Civil War.
Obama said the fort also helped create the environment that led President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation....
...Beyond the historical issues, Obama noted the economic value of Fort Monroe's designation as a national monument. He said local officials have estimated that a plan for reusing the site would help create nearly 3,000 jobs in next-door Virginia. Obama won the commonwealth in 2008 and it may prove crucial to his re-election bid....
