A reminder that today is not only Columbus Day, a federal holiday since 1937, but in Virginia it is also Yorktown Victory Day.
From the Code of Virginia
The second Monday in October - Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day to honor Christopher Columbus, a discoverer of the Americas, and the final victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, in the Revolutionary War.
The D.A.R., Daughters of the American Revolution, had been petitioning for some sort of Yorktown commemoration to be made a national holiday since early in the 20th Century.
Strangely enough we also have in the Code . . .
§ 2.2-3302. Observance of Yorktown Day.
The nineteenth day of October of each year shall be recognized and celebrated as Yorktown Day throughout the Commonwealth. The observance of Yorktown Day shall not be considered a paid state holiday.
Apparently there was an unsuccessful drive in the mid 1980s to make Yorktown Day a paid state holiday. I believe, though the whole thing is rather vague, as are many things the General Assembly does, that "Yorktown Victory Day" was added to the Columbus Day holiday as a compromise.
