1. In 1863, Confederate General John S. Mosby's Rangers attacked and captured Union General Edwin H. Stoughton in Fairfax Court House. This daring raid became known as "Mosby's Midnight Ride" and is still celebrated by Civil War enthusiasts today.

2. On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland. While not directly related to Virginia history, many Virginians immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island and likely saw the statue as a symbol of hope for a better life.

3. The Virginia State Corporation Commission was established on October 28, 1902. This agency regulates various businesses and industries operating within Virginia, such as insurance companies, utilities, and banks.

4. In 1922, the Virginia General Assembly passed the first state law in the nation requiring compulsory school attendance for children aged 8-14. This law aimed to improve education and reduce illiteracy rates in the state.

5. On October 28, 1952, the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers (now known as the Virginia Parent Teacher Association) adopted a resolution urging all Virginia schools to desegregate voluntarily. This was a significant step in the long struggle for civil rights in Virginia and helped pave the way for the eventual Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954.