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1998 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 383
On the death of Colonel Bernard "Ben" Brenman.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 15, 1998
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 1998

WHEREAS, Colonel Bernard "Ben" Brenman of Alexandria, a highly decorated veteran of 33 years in the United States Army who became one of Alexandria's most prominent civic activists, died on February 8, 1998; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Colonel Brenman served in the Army during World War II, leading the task force that liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Matthausen; and

WHEREAS, recalled to active duty during the Korean War, Colonel Brenman served with United States and Turkish units as part of I Corps; and

WHEREAS, also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Colonel Brenman was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit (twice), and the Purple Heart; and

WHEREAS, a resident of Alexandria since his retirement from the Army in 1970, Ben Brenman soon became one of the city's most active, persistent, and successful civic advocates; and

WHEREAS, Ben Brenman was one of the founders, and for 20 years the president, of the Alexandria Archaeological Commission, which he built into the largest urban archaeological program in the United States; and

WHEREAS, widely known as the unofficial mayor of Alexandria's West End, Ben Brenman left his imprint on most of the important projects and improvements in that section of the city, leading efforts to create or restore numerous parks and public facilities; and

WHEREAS, Ben Brenman was a leader of the Holmes Run Committee, spearheading its successful efforts to create the James Marx All Veterans Park, to excavate and restore the Alexandria Canal Tidal Lock, and to develop the Lake Cook Children's Fishing Hole; and

WHEREAS, Ben Brenman was instrumental in the creation of Alexandria's African-American Heritage Park and Black History Resource Center; and

WHEREAS, Ben Brenman gave his time, talents, and energy to numerous other civic and charitable groups and was a founding member of the Uriah P. Levy Lodge of B'nai B'rith and a member of the Retired Officers Association; and

WHEREAS, Ben Brenman was repeatedly recognized for his extraordinary contributions to the City of Alexandria, including the 1995 Alexandria United Way Outstanding Community Service Award; and

WHEREAS, a man utterly devoted to his community and his country, Ben Brenman lives on in the many civic improvements he fought for and the community pride his example created; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the death of one of Alexandria's finest citizens, Colonel Bernard "Ben" Brenman; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Colonel Bernard "Ben" Brenman as an expression of the great respect in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of the Commonwealth.