ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA9) -- Alexandria celebrated it's 266th birthday Saturday with their annual party featuring music, food and fireworks.
But less than a mile from the party at Oronoco Bay Park, there's a statue dedicated to honoring the lives of Confederate soldiers lost during the war. And twice a year, Confederate flags are flown at the statue.
But with South Carolina taking down the Confederate flag at their capital, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille says the time has come for the city to stop this practice.
"This is an opportunity for us to come together and put all that behind us and unite and be inspired by and more forward in a positive way," Euille said. "And show the rest of the country that life is better afterwards."
All of the Alexandria City Council members are in favor of preventing the flag from being raised at the statue, but say they will hold a public meeting about the matter in September.
Mayor Euille also said the council will discuss the possibility of taking down the statue and potentially changing some street names in the city.
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