2025 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 509
Commending Shrine Mont.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 27, 2025
Agreed to by the Senate, January 30, 2025
WHEREAS, Shrine Mont, a conference and retreat center in Orkney Springs, has provided a welcoming gathering place for local residents and visitors from across the country for 100 years; and
WHEREAS, the Rev. Dr. Edmund Lee Woodward built the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration in Orkney Springs, which was consecrated as the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, on August 6, 1925; that same year, he also established Shrine Mont as a retreat center to be A Place Apart for All; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Woodward built Art Hall in 1940 to house the art collection of his uncle and renowned landscape artist John Douglas Woodward and serve as a center of culture for western Shenandoah County; and
WHEREAS, in 1950, Orkney Springs resident Wilmer Moomaw became the first of three generations of the Moomaw family to serve as a director of Shrine Mont, providing strong leadership for the center and solidifying its long-term relationship with the Shenandoah County community; and
WHEREAS, Wilmer Moomaw oversaw the acquisition and renovation of the historic Orkney Springs Hotel and property in 1979 and led efforts to designate Shrine Mont as a nonprofit organization for its role in supporting the church and achievements in historic preservation and cultural education; and
WHEREAS, Shrine Mont currently serves 15,000 guests annually through conferences, parish retreats, youth camps, artist workshops, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, and numerous family reunions from throughout the Commonwealth and the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Shrine Mont for its outstanding service to the residents of Shenandoah County and the Commonwealth on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of Shrine Mont as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's significant contributions to the Shenandoah Valley community and best wishes in its future endeavors.