Regarding Casey’s entrey below, George Mason would certainly be a fine candidate for “greatest Virginian,” along with Jefferson, Randolph, John Tyler, St. George Tucker, and many others. But I wouldn’t take “points” away from Lee for participating in the Mexican War as a young army officer. As a junior officer he was ordered to go to war in Mexico. Refusing to do so would literally have meant suicide, as he would likely have been executed as a deserter. I think its inappropriate to downgrade him for declining to commit suicide.