April is Confederate History Month in Dixie

American Chronicle ^ | March 20, 2008 | Calvin Johnson

[cowboyway]

Is American history still taught in our schools?

Do young people know about men like Father Emmeran Bliemel, O.S.B. who was the first American Chaplain to die on the battlefield? Bliemel was killed during the War Between the States Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia on August 31, 1864.

As Chaplain of the 10th Tennessee Regiment, Bliemel courageously and unselfishly ministered to the spiritual needs of his Confederate Comrades, both under fire and behind the lines.

Let me tell you about the "Heroes of the South" who are affectionately remembered during "Confederate History and Heritage Month" in April. Proclamations will be signed by Governor's, Mayor's, and County Commissioners.

Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia has issued a proclamation declaring April 2008 as Confederate History Month. The proclamation specifically recognizes and honors Bill Yopp, a Black Confederate from Laurens County, Georgia. Descendants of Bill Yopp were present at the signing ceremony.

Let us also remember women like Lizzie Rutherford, of Columbus, Georgia, who on a cold day in January worked to clean the graves of Confederate soldiers. She, along with the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, led in efforts to take care of soldiers' graves and get "Confederate Memorial Day" recognized throughout the South.

A monument marks the graves of Jewish Confederate soldiers buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia with these words inscribed: "Shemang Yisroel, Adonoy Elohainoo, Adonoy Achod!" Hear, O Israel in blessed and eternal memory of the South's sons and daughters of Abraham, upon the battlefields and home fronts in Dixie's Land, They gave all to the cause of the Confederacy.

History is alive at Historic Arlington National Cemetery!!

There are 245,000 Servicemen and Women, including their families, buried at Arlington. Arlington National Cemetery is located in the shadow of the Custis-Lee Mansion "Arlington House" that was home to General Robert E. Lee and his family until the beginning of the War Between the States.

In 1864, Union soldiers were first buried here and by the end of the war in 1865, the number rose to 16,000. The Union burial site at Arlington National Cemetery is located at section 13. Arlington is also the burial site of; President John F. Kennedy, General Jonathan M. Wainwright and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Arlington is also the burial place of men who fought for the Confederacy that is located in section 16.

In 1898, United States President William McKinley, who was a former Union soldier, spoke in Atlanta, Georgia and said, quote "In the spirit of Fraternity it was time for the North to share in the care of graves of former Confederate soldiers." unquote

In Consequence to his speech, by Act of the United States Congress, a portion of Arlington National Cemetery was set aside for the burial of Confederate soldiers. At this time 267 Confederate remains from near Washington, D.C. were removed and re-interred at this new site.

In 1906, the United Daughters of the Confederacy asked permission from William Howard Taft to erect a monument to the South's soldiers. Taft was at the time serving as the United States Secretary of War and was in charge of the National Cemeteries.

With permission the Arlington Confederate Memorial Association was formed and the United Daughters of the Confederacy were given authority to oversee work on the monument.

An agreement and contract was made with Sir Moses Jacob Ezekiel who was a Jewish Confederate Veteran by the record of his service at the Battle of New Market while he was a Cadet at Virginia Military Institute.

On June 4, 1914, the Arlington Monument was unveiled to a crowd of thousands that included both former Confederate and Union soldiers.

This Memorial Event was presided over by President Woodrow Wilson and the people applauded the stirring speeches given by: General Bennett H. Young--Commander In Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, General Washington Gardner--Commander In Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic and Colonel Robert E. Lee--the grandson of General Robert E. Lee.

The Confederate Monument unveiling was concluded by a 21 gun salute and the Arlington Monument was officially given to the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the UDC gave it back to the United States War Department for keeping and was accepted by President Woodrow Wilson who said: "I am not so happy as PROUD to participate in this capacity on such an occasion, Proud that I represent such a people."

The Sons of Confederate Veterans, www.scv.org, have proudly proclaimed 2008 as the "Year of Davis." Activities commemorating the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis will include the reopening of "Beauvoir" the last home to Davis and family on June 3, 2008.

Go to: www.confederateheritagemonth.com for events and stories about Confederate History Month.

Lest we Forget!!

[cowboyway]

South Carolina observes Confederate Memorial Day on May 10th.

[ottbmare]

Here we go. We can now anticipate a 4000-post thread about How The Confederates Were All Traitors—No They Were Not.

[cowboyway]

We can now anticipate a 4000-post thread about How The Confederates Were All Traitors

Those arguments are usually posted out of ignorance of history and, in a lot of cases, a hatred of Southerners.

[Comparative Advantage]

Typical Southern racists! /s

[JaneNC]

Well, I have lived in the South all my life. I had no idea that April was “Confederate” History month.

[Comparative Advantage]

I went to Robert E. Lee Elementary school for one year in second grade back in the 70’s in Newport News, Virginia. I wonder if it is still named that or if it is now Malik Zulu Shabazz Elementary.

[ml/nj]

Is this allowed?

ML/NJ

[JaneNC]

Robert E. Lee was a brilliant man. Of course it is allowed.

[cowboyway]

Well, I have lived in the South all my life. I had no idea that April was “Confederate” History month.

And a lot of native Southerners don't have a clue about the War of Southern Independence. I recommend reading The South Under Siege - 1830 to 2000 by Frank Conner. (Click HERE for a review.)

State governments that regularly and traditionally have declared Confederate History Month are as follows:

Alabama
Georgia
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas (since 1999)
Virginia
Florida (since 2007)

[cowboyway]

Is this allowed?

Thankfully, yes.

In South Carolina, Confederate Memorial Day is an official holiday.

2008 State Holiday Schedule for South Carolina

New Year's Day
Tuesday, January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 21 (3rd Monday in January)

George Washington's Birthday / President's Day
Monday, February 18 (3rd Monday in February)

Confederate Memorial Day
Friday, May 9

National Memorial Day
Monday, May 26 (Last Monday in May)

Independence Day
Friday, July 4

Labor Day
Monday, September 1 (First Monday in September)

Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 11

Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 27 (Fourth Thursday in November)

Day after Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 28

Christmas Day
Thursday, December 25

Day after Christmas
Friday, December 26

[cowboyway]

I went to Robert E. Lee Elementary school for one year in second grade back in the 70’s in Newport News, Virginia. I wonder if it is still named that or if it is now Malik Zulu Shabazz Elementary.

Robert E. Lee elementary schools in the US:

Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Amarillo, Texas)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Austin, Texas)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Columbia, Missouri)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Dallas, Texas)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Denton, Texas)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Durant, Oklahoma)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (East Wenatchee, Washington)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (El Paso, Texas)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Hampton, Virginia)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Hugo, Oklahoma)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Jackson, Mississippi)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Long Beach, California)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Richmond, Virginia)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Satsuma, Alabama)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Spotsylvania, Virginia)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Tampa, Florida)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Tullahoma, Tennessee)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Robert E. Lee Elementary School (San Diego, California)

Perhaps the one you went to was in Hampton, VA?

If so, it still survives!!!!

[Comparative Advantage]

It must have been Hampton, VA.

Thanks!

[radar101]

I have only been in five states and DC. One of those states is Texas. Almost every Texas town has a staue like this:

Although the Confederate soldier statue that stands guards outside the Loudoun County Courthouse (Virginia) is not quite 100 years old, the fundraising effort behind the sculpture began well over a century ago.

The most vile thing you can call someone is a "Yankee".

Everyone has an ancestor who fought with the Confederate Cause.

Everyone knows that basically the War was about State's Rights, and against a Fedeal dictatorship.

[usmcobra]

I have no hatred for southerners, I am one, but let’s study the issue truthfully, the confederacy was created by democrats in order that they would not have to debate or vote on slavery in the halls of congress.

Too many southron scholars see Lincoln’s brilliant tactic of offering a permanence to slavery to the south as sign he was willing to allow it to be formally legalized in the United States Constitution, he wasn’t so inclined. He wanted a debate and a vote knowing that in Congress the forces of slavery would surely lose, they knew it too and so the confederacy was born to escape the debate over slavery.

[cowboyway]

Almost every Texas town has a staue like this:

The last time I was in my hometown, the local SCV was sprucing up the memorial to the Confederate dead in the cities Willow Dale Cemetery.

Designed in 1853 by Colonel Charles Nelson, this historically significant cemetery features an 1883 Confederate Monument, which underneath lies the mass grave of 800 Confederate soldiers. See the resting place of Jarad K. White, a Texas soldier killed in 1865 while fighting with the Texas Calvary in northern Wayne County. White’s grave receives a Texas flag each year.

Confederate War Memorial in Salem, South Carolina, where I now live.

[SouthTexas]

The most vile thing you can call someone is a "Yankee".

There's yankees and there are d*mn yankees.

[ottbmare]

Those arguments are usually posted out of ignorance of history and, in a lot of cases, a hatred of Southerners.

I fully agree.

[cowboyway]

I have no hatred for southerners, I am one, but let’s study the issue truthfully, the confederacy was created by democrats in order that they would not have to debate or vote on slavery in the halls of congress.

First of all, you can't equate an 1860 democrat with a 2008 democrat. I mean, can you see a Barack Obama running for anything on an 1860 democrat ticket?

Second, I have studied the issue. If you remove slavery as the occasion for secession and add any one of the other divisive issues between north and South the results would be the same.

He wanted a debate and a vote knowing that in Congress the forces of slavery would surely lose, they knew it too and so the confederacy was born to escape the debate over slavery.

Lincoln wanted a centralized government and a dictatorship. He got one out of two.

[353FMG]

When I grew up there were only Damn Yankees and F**king Rebels and they were all members of the Greatest Generation this country ever produced.

[radar101]

Damn Straight!

When I grew up there were only Damn Yankees and ____ Rebels and they were all members of the Greatest Generation this country ever produced.