President Barack Obama will join Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., former Sen. John W. Warner and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki on Monday at George Mason University to mark the implementation of Webb’s Post-9/11 GI Bill. Tomorrow, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin distributing tuition payments to schools participating in the program.

The Virginia Holocaust Museum last night honored former Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., with its Rule of Law award for his 30 years of service. Warner, 82, did not seek re-election in 2008 and left office Jan. 3 after five terms in the Senate. “The rule of law . . . is the thing that perhaps distinguishes America from the other nations of the world,“ Warner said. “Great Britain, France and most of the major nations of the world carefully adhere to their laws, but the United States is looked upon the world over as the beacon.“

More than 53,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in Southwest Virginia will be permanently protected from development under legislation that cleared Congress yesterday. The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, authored by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th , passed on a 285-140 vote and now awaits President Barack Obama’s signature. Obama is expected to sign the legislation.

J. Warner’s souvenirs up for sale next week 49 sets of his Senate memorabilia will be auctioned in N.Va. This isn’t your typical garage sale. There’s the antique roll-top desk John W. Warner used for 30 years in the U.S. Senate. And the signed photos from former President Ronald Reagan.

Former Sen. John W. Warner is to be a knight. The British Embassy in Washington announced yesterday that Queen Elizabeth II will name Virginia’s former senator an honorary Knight Commander for his work strengthening the American-British military alliance. But don’t call Warner “Sir” anytime soon. As a non-British citizen, the title of “Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” only allows Warner to put the letters KBE after his name, according to British embassy officials.

The next attack submarine built in Virginia will be named for the state’s just-retired U.S. senator, John W. Warner. The U.S. Navy yesterday said the Virginia-class sub will be built by Northrop Grumman’s Newport News shipyard.

Mark R. Warner took the oath of office as Virginia’s new U.S. senator yesterday, saying he hopes to help steer the country through even tougher economic challenges than Virginia faced when he became governor in 2002. Warner succeeds Republican John W. Warner, who retired after 30 years in the Senate. John Warner and Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., walked Mark Warner down the aisle of the Senate chamber to be sworn in by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Once seen by some political observers as a rich dilettante who married well and looked good, John Warner worked hard and seriously to become a lion of the U.S. Senate. Online Extra: A look back, in photos, of Warner’s 30-year career in the Senate.

Whether it was policy, politics or the prerogatives of the U.S. Senate, retiring Republican John W. Warner did it his way. A spirited advocate for defense—a major economic force in Virginia, home to the Pentagon—Warner, nonetheless, has raised questions about the nation’s strategy in Iraq.

As the truly honorable John Warner packs up a fascinating lifetime of mementos, photographs, and furniture in his U.S. Senate office, there will be many stories and accolades published for my colleague’s legislative accomplishments and lifetime of service to our country.

John Warner and I first met in 1976 when he was serving as head of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. We were both exploring the possibility of running for statewide office, and for 19 of the next 32 years we would serve Virginia concurrently.

Virginia is fighting a looming decision by the Navy to move an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport Naval Air Station near Jacksonville, Fla.