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Curious plaque tells forgotten story

By WTOP Staff

Kathy Stewart, wtop.com

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The familiar brick sidewalks of Old Town Alexandria served as the backdrop to a bit of American history you may not be familiar with: The first fatal shots of the Civil War were fired in Old Town in May 1861.

Fort Sumter fell a month earlier. (One person died at the South Carolina battle, but it was an accident.) And the first major battle, Manassas/Bull Run, didn’t start until the middle of July.

But a controversial plaque, that’s been in place for decades outside of an Alexandria hotel, memorializes the man who killed the first Union solider of the war.

If you’ve ever visited Old Town, you may have walked right past it. The bronze marker is attached to the front facade of the Monaco Hotel at the corner of Pitt and King streets.

Erected by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the plaque pays tribute to James W. Jackson, who killed Union soldier Col. Elmer Ellsworth, who was President Lincoln’s personal assistant. Jackson however was immediately killed by Union Cpl. Francis Brownell.

This was a huge story in 1861 and ran on the front page of the New York Tribune. Jackson, an ardent secessionist, was owner of the Marshall House, a type of boarding house/hotel/tavern, which stood where the Monaco Hotel now stands.

Lance Mallamo, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, says Jackson raised a huge secession flag over the Marshall House after Virginia voted to secede. Legend has it the flag could be seen from southern portions of D.C.

According to Mallamo, when Union forces entered Old Town, Ellsworth saw the flag and went to the roof of the Marshall House and took it down.

Turning to a New York Tribune reporter and Brownell, he said, “Well boys, I’ve got it.” Then he heard a voice saying, “And I’ve got you.”

It was Jackson with a gun. He shot and killed Ellsworth and then Brownell shot and killed Jackson.

The plaque doesn’t mention Jackson’s own death at the hands of union soldiers.

For some, the plaque evokes the same feelings that divided the North and South 150 years ago. And even though some residents have wanted it to come down, the plaque lies on private property and city officials have no control over its fate.

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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