1. On June 8, 1861, Virginia officially seceded from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America as a result of the Civil War. The decision was made in a convention held in Richmond, which voted 88 to 55 in favor of secession.

2. On June 8, 1936, the Virginia Memorial Bridge was opened to the public, connecting Richmond and Henrico County across the James River. The bridge, which is now known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge, was built in honor of the Confederate general and features two statues of Lee on horseback at both ends.

3. On June 8, 1972, a major flood hit the city of Roanoke and caused widespread damage to homes and businesses. The flood was caused by heavy rainfall that lasted for several days and resulted in over $5 million in damages.

4. On June 8, 2015, same-sex marriage became legal in Virginia following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. The ruling invalidated state bans on same-sex marriage and granted same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide.

5. On June 8, 2017, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors voted to rename the campus's controversial "Slave Memorial" as the "Huckleberry Trail Monument." The memorial was originally dedicated in 1996 to honor the enslaved African Americans who helped build the university, but was criticized for its lack of context and the use of the term "slave."