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I am having a problem with this decision by the Marine Corps, if it can really be called that any longer. According to James A. Mitchener, the descendants of Confederate veterans were disproportionately represented in the Marine Corps of WW II as it grew from a few thousand men to six divisions. So, of all the Armed Forces the Corps would be the one most associated with that martial heritage, which Bruce Catton described as including the incomparable infantry of the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Confederate battle flag has become divisive for people who embrace a modern, popular political agenda. A fashionable consensus has emerged of those deciding the existence of Americans, who served in the Confederate armed forces of 150 years ago, inflicts emotional damage on them today. It also includes those who adjust their actions to validate these perceptions of wounded identity. The instigators reside as fragments of a swarm trading away adulthood and dignity for a prestige lacking dreams to pursue or accomplishments to celebrate. The subservient, enabling parties receive effortless, addictive compassion as the drug of choice.

The Stars and Stripes and Stars and Bars decorate the graves of those who should be honored for having resolved an abandoned political issue. Britain abolished slavery throughout the Empire in 1833, but here politicians ignored the precedents of our founding documents, the accomplishments of Britain, and the rising influence of the infallibility and intransigence of abolitionists and planters. The myopic ideologies of these two factions stumbled us into the Civil War.

Whether referenced in statutes as Civil War (Union and Confederate), Spanish-American, WW I, WW II, Korean, Vietnam, or Desert Storm veterans, I maintain all are also brothers in arms for whom the term American veteran applies. When I visited Arlington Cemetery, I walked by the grave of Confederate unknown soldiers who served under the Stars and Bars. I think I will hold to this now unpopular position.

Partial Bibliography:

The Liberal Mind by Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr., M.D.

Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen

Slavery Abolition Act 1833 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_Abolition_Act_1833

The Case Against Liberal Compassion https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/the-case-against-liberal-compassion/

Confederate Soldiers Are Considered U.S. Veterans Under Federal Law-Truth! https://www.truthorfiction.com/confederate-soldiers-are-considered-u-s-veterans-under-federal-law/ Confederate Soldiers – American Veterans by Act of Congress https://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/04/03/confederate-soldiers-american-veterans-by-act-of-congress/ https://www.veteranstodayarchives.com/2011/04/14/confederate-soldiers-are-american-veterans-by-act-of-congress/

The vast majority of Confederate soldiers never practiced or believed in slavery. They fought for their own reasons which had nothing to do with the above. One of the best accounts of what led to the confrontation between The States, can be found in the pages of "Destruction and Reconstruction" - by Richard L. Taylor

In this unique series, the Civil War comes vividly to life, as those who were there give eye-witness accounts from both sides of the bloody conflict. A sugar farmer and gentleman politician with no military training before the war, General Richard Taylor--son of President Zachary Taylor--plays a major role in the Red River campaign. Out of print since 1879.

It can also be found for free in electronic format on many websites, including google books.