SAG-AFTRA Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Virginia Executive Mansion

SAG-AFTRA was pleased to participate in the 200th anniversary celebration of the oldest continuously occupied executive mansion in the country, Virginia's Governor's Mansion. The event was hosted by Virginia Gov. and First Lady Bob and Maureen McDonnell at the Carpenter Theatre–Richmond CenterStage on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The evening featured a signing of First House, the official book commemorating the bicentennial of the mansion written by Mary Miley Theobald and Virginia native David Baldacci, a screening of a documentary featuring tales of visits from everyone from Lafayette to Steven Spielberg (who filmed several scenes from Lincoln there), music by Ashland native George Dennehy who, born without arms, plays his guitar using his feet, and a panel discussion about life in the mansion moderated by Dr. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia and featuring Governors McDonnell, George Allen, Jim Gilmore, former Gov. and current U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, and Jon and Laura Baliles who represented their father, former Gov. Gerald Baliles.
 
It was an exciting evening celebrating both Virginia and the mansion’s long and rich histories.
 
 
Ashland, VA native and musician George Dennehy (Photo courtesy Kathy Scott/Office of the First Lady)
 
 
(left to right) Laura Baliles (daughter of former Gov. Gerald Baliles), former Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Gov. George Allen, Gov. Bob McDonnell, U.S. Senator and former Gov. Tim Kaine, and Jon Baliles (son of former Gov. Gerald Baliles). (Photo courtesy Kathy Scott/Office of the First Lady)
 
 
(left to right) Governors Gilmore, Allen, McDonnell and Kaine. (Photo courtesy Kathy Scott/Office of the First Lady)