TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE McKAY CLAN OF VIRGINIA:

xxxxxAs you probably know the Warren Rifles Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, with the cooperation of the Warren County-Front Royal Chamber of Commerce and the governing officials of the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren, have undertaken to build a Confederate Museum on Chester Street, Front Royal, Virginia, on land donated by Dr. Bernard Samuels, which will be the only Confederate Museum located in the famed Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where "Stonewall" Jackson, Turner Ashby, John S. Mosby and Belle Boyd won renown as devoted heroes of the Southern Cause.

xxxxxAll of the prominent families of Warren County who had soldiers in the War Between the States, have been requested to contribute to the erection of this Museum and to place Memorials to their beloved dead in this Museum to perpetuate their memories and exploits.

xxxxxIn view of the fact that the McKays had about eleven soldiers in this war from Warren County, more than any other family with the possible exception of the Bucks who probably had 14 soldiers in the war, we have been requested to donate an appropriate memorial in the main room of the Museum in memory of these fine men. We do not have a complete list of these soldiers, but some of them are as follows: Alfred A. McKay, Charles Lewis McKay, James Clay McKay, Jacob Francis McKay, James Edwin McKay, John Walter McKay, Joseph Casper McKay, Capt. Jesse McKay and Thomas Buck McKay.

xxxxxWe would like to receive the name or names of any McKays omitted from the above list and their companies and regiments.

xxxxxAt a meeting of the McKay Clan held at Skyland, Va., on September 12, 1954, the Museum and the memorials were discussed fully and an appropriation of $150.00 from the treasury of the Clan was donated towards the Museum and a proper memorial for the McKays.

xxxxxA committee was appointed to choose a proper memorial and collect the money for the same if possible. The committee appointed was John W. Rust, Fairfax, Virginia; H. Randolph Barbee, 1701 Florida Avenue, Washington, D.C. and Lucy McKay Ray, Severna Park, Maryland.

xxxxxThe committee attended the ground breaking ceremonies for the Museum on October 24, 1954, and were much delighted with the entire layout, location and enthusiasm shown on this occasion; then after consultation decided to choose as a memorial to our family an Archway loading from the lobby into Museum room, at the cost of $500.00. Therefore, after deducting the $150.00 already earmarked by the Clan it will be necessary for us to raise the balance of $350.00 for this fine cause.

xxxxxWe are writing to each member of the Clan for an individual donation and hope that you will send a check payable to Isabel Brockman, Treasurer, through the undersigned Chairman, John W. Rust, Fairfax, Virginia, so that we may meet our commitment for the Archway thus commemorating the fine services rendered our State in its time of peril while also helping to establish the only Confederate Museum in the Valley of Virginia.

February 18, 1955

xxxxxxxxxxJohn W. Rustxxxxxx)
xxxxxxxxxxH. Randolph Barbee) Committee
xxxxxxxxxxLucy McKay Rayxx)