A lot of one-time Virginia heroes came down last week. The departure of the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville made national news. The departure of Harry Byrd Sr.âs statue from the State Capitol grounds drew less attention â even though you can argue that Byrd had more influence on Virginia than Lee ever did. Byrd certainly lasted longer. Leeâs main claim to fame lasted for four bloody years. Byrd ruled â thereâs really no better word â over Virginia for four decades, and his parts of his legacy continue in state policy today. Lee excites strange and misguided emotions from those who still canât reconcile themselves to the reality of what the Southern cause was all about. But Byrd is the more current figure and, therefore, the one we should be more concerned about.