Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of Bill to Designate George C. Marshall House as a National Park Service Affiliated Area

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate's passage of their legislation to designate the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as an affiliated area under the National Park Service (NPS). Warner and Kaine advocated for years alongside then-U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton, and now with U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), for an official designation, which would provide new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall's legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming. The senators encourage the House of Representatives to pass the legislation to send it to the President.

"We're glad that the Senate passed our legislation with Representative Subramanyam to designate General George C. Marshall's Dodona Manor as a National Park Service Affiliated Area," said the senators. "This will ensure that the site is preserved for future generations and honor the amazing legacy of General Marshall."

"Dodona Manor has been a cornerstone of our community in Leesburg for several hundred years, and it deserves recognition," said Subramanyam. "This bill honors George C. Marshall's remarkable legacy by ensuring the property is preserved for generations of Virginians and for visitors across the world who come to see it. The bill will also help further the work of the George C. Marshall International Center and all of its programming. Thank you to Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership in getting our bill through the Senate."

General Marshall led a lifetime of public service, serving as Chief of Staff to the Army during America's entry into World War II, as Secretary of State where he orchestrated the historic Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe following the war-work for which he received a Nobel Peace Prize-and as Secretary of Defense after the onset of the Korean War.

Dodona Manor is currently registered as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior and has been designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Virginia Landmark.

The Marshall House has been an integral part of the Leesburg community for over two centuries. General Marshall and his wife Katherine purchased the property in 1941 as a weekend retreat house, and regularly spent time at the property throughout General Marshall's tenure as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. While residing there, he received world dignitaries including President Truman and Madam Chiang Kai-shek

In 2005, Dodona Manor opened as a historic house museum and hosts international exchanges, historical exhibits, community events, and educational programming about the life and legacy of the Marshall family.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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