1. In 1775, the Virginia Convention authorized the creation of two battalions of soldiers to assist the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This decision helped provide much-needed support to George Washington's forces as they fought for independence.

2. On May 7, 1838, the Virginia Military Institute was founded in Lexington, Virginia. The school has produced numerous notable alumni, including five Medal of Honor recipients and several high-ranking military officers.

3. During the Civil War, on May 7, 1864, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant clashed with Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee in the Battle of Todd's Tavern. The battle was part of the larger Overland Campaign and resulted in a stalemate.

4. On May 7, 1896, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, upholding the "separate but equal" doctrine of racial segregation. This decision would remain in effect for almost 60 years, until it was overturned by the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

5. In 2017, May 7 was declared "Virginia Vineyard Month" by Governor Terry McAuliffe. The designation was meant to recognize the important role that Virginia's wineries and vineyards play in the state's agriculture industry and tourism sector.