The Virginia Flaggers: May 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Va. Flaggers Call to Action: Help Save "Lady Virginia"

After a routine cleaning, it was discovered that the Confederate Monument in Warrenton Cemetery had shifted and was in need of quick repair to prevent "Lady Virginia" from toppling.

Details here:

http://www.fauquiernow.com/index.php/fauquier_news/article/warrenton-cemetary-statue-needs-fixing-quickly-2013

The Black Horse Chapter #9, United Daughters of the Confederacy is accepting donations to assist with repairs, which will begin on May 30th.

Contributions can be mailed to:
UDC, Black Horse Chapter Number 9
Mail to: Betty Brown, Treasurer
5320 Courtney's Corner Road
Sumerduck, Va 22742-1800

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Upcoming Events

Friday, May 24th: 6:30 p.m. -- Evensong & Blessing of the Flags. This year the service will be at the Anglican Catholic Church of St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland, 402 E. Monroe Avenue, Alexandria, VA,m 22301. The rector, Rev. LTC John Lewis Roddy USAR (Ret) is a member of the SCV and strongly encourages us to display our Confederate flags, uniforms, and regalia. Of course we will have our usual Southron BBQ feed after the service in the undercroft. The cost of the BBQ will be $25.00. However, one does not need to attend the supper. If you plan to attend, please contact Richard Abell directly: richard_bender_abell@yahoo.com

Saturday, May 25th: 11:00 a.m. -- Confederate Memorial Day Service, Greenlawn Memorial Park, 1700 Parrish Ave., Newport News, VA, Sponsored by the Magruder-Ewell Camp #99, SCV

Saturday, May 27th: 10:00 a.m. -- The Lee-Jackson Camp #1 will hold their Annual Memorial Day Service at the Confederate War Memorial Chapel at 2900 Grove Avenue @ Boulevard in Richmond. This year's speaker is Col. Eric Buckland,USA (ret) author of Mosby's Keydet Rangers and other books on Col John S. Mosby and the men who served with him. For more information, contact the Lee-Jackson Camp #1, SCV, Friends of the Confederate war Memorial Chapel, PO Box 71256, Richmond, VA 23255-1256.

Monday, May 27th: 2:00 p.m. -- Thirty-Third Annual Huguenot Springs Cemetery Memorial Day Service, Co-sponsored by the J. E. B. Stuart Camp #1343 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Huguenot Springs Cemetery Foundation and Knibbâ€™s Battery. Includes bagpipe music by Virginia Scots Guards and address by Ronnie S. Roach, who will speak about the Confederate Memorial Day for each of the Southern states. There will be a Presentation of Wreaths, followed by an artillery salute and refreshments. Huguenot Springs Road south of Robious Road and west of State Route 288 in Powhatan County. Free. 804-356-8868 or 804-740-1405.

Monday, May 27th: 3:00 p.m. -- The Dearing - Beauregard Camp # 1813 will be presenting the 15th Annual Memorial Day Service at historic Blandford Cemetery on Memorial Hill in Petersburg, VA. Special guest speaker is award winning writer and historian Michael C. Hardy. Music will be provided by noted Southern singer, songwriter and actor Stan Clardy. The service is dedicated to Sgt. Daniel A. McIntosh, CO I, 26th NC Regiment and Pvt William A. Vickers, CO H, 49th NC Regiment.

Sunday, June 2nd: 11:00 a.m. -- Memorial Service in honor of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The Confederate Memorial, Jackson Circle, Arlington National Cemetery*. Sponsored by the District of Columbia Div. of UDC.

Saturday, June 8th 9:00 a.m. -- Annual birthday ceremony for Jefferson F. Davis, at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. Keynote speaker will be Mr. Bert Hayes-Davis, great great grandson of Jeff Davis.

Saturday, June 22nd -- Two Confederate grave marker ceremonies. 3495 Davis Mill Road, Thurston Family Cemetery, Goochland, VA. Contact is James Waldrop, cell 804-513-9747. Honor Guard will be provided by Mr Frank Yates, and the William Latane SCV camp. Many relatives expected, should be a nice turnout. Plenty of parking.

Monday, June 24th 6:30 p.m. -- Susan and Barry will be traveling to Va Beach to speak to the Princess Anne Camp #484, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Gus and George's Spaghetti and Steakhouse, 4312 Virginia Beach, VA

Saturday, June 29th 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. -- 22nd Annual Point Lookout Pilgrimage, Confederate Memorial Park, Point Lookout, MD.

Saturday, August 17th -- Susan will travel to Tampa, FL to speak to the August meeting of the Gen. Jubal A. Early SCV Camp #556, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Va Flaggers Update: Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge Signs

It is often misunderstood that all we do as Flaggers is stand out in public "waving" a Confederate Battle Flag. Although there are many times that we do forward the colors (whether it be in protest of a heritage violation, or in honor of our ancestors at a Memorial Service or event), a large part of the work we do is behind the scenes. The story of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge signs here in Richmond is one example of such work.

Several months ago, Va Flagger Grayson Jennings noticed that the signs designating the memorial were missing from the bridge. He recalled that during construction 5-6 years ago, the signs had disappeared, and then re appeared after some inquiry, only to (apparently) disappear again.

His first request to VDOT was answered with the information that "The Lee Bridge across the James River in Richmond, while constructed by VDOT in the late 1980s, was turned over to the City of Richmond for operation and maintenance upon completion. Any signing for that bridge is the responsibility of the City to keep up. VDOT would have no involvement in the replacement of signs designating the Lee Bridge." It was suggested we contact the City Public Works Department.

The Richmond Public Works Department responded that they did not realize the signs were missing and would check into it. After many follow up communications, we received word on March 26th that new signs had been fabricated, and that we should look for them to be installed in approx. 2 weeks.

This was followed with a few more follow up emails and periodic drive-by sign checks. Finally, on Tuesday, May 21st, we were THRILLED to drive up to the bridge and find that the SIGNS HAD BEEN INSTALLED!!! Four signs now mark the bridge and are a visible reminder each day, to thousands of motorists, of the man for whom the bridge is named.

We share this story to encourage everyone to keep your eyes and ears open for these kinds of "quiet" heritage violations, which happen every day across the United States. Take time to find the appropriate people to contact and keep the skeer on (in this case, weekly, polite email inquiries) until they follow through, and the honor due our Confederate heroes is restored!

In this case, victory was won without a single flag being waved, and we never even got to try out our new slogan RETURN the signs! RESTORE the honor!

Special thanks to Grayson for his diligence, and to the folks at the Richmond Public Works for stepping up and making this right.

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers

Friday, May 17, 2013

We Take Our Stand

"The Battle Flag has suffered much abuse and we, the descendants of the Confederate heroes whose honor that Cross verifies, must continually do battle with ignorance and defamation from those who choose to misunderstand our heritage. We, whose ancestors gave us that centuries-old Cross, have a duty to protect it, to restore it to its position of dignity and respect, and that we must do. The Confederates were neither cold nor timid...neither can we be.

It is a privilege to have inherited the Southern Cross, to have such an honorable standard with which to align our hopes and dreams for the future. Just as the Southern Cross has become popular in other countries and is used by them as a beacon of courage, so to, will there surely be a renaissance in our own country...a renewal of things good and noble and pleasant and right. The time will arrive when ALL people are allowed to honor their history, yes, even Southerners. The day will come (and IT WILL) when people learn what we already know. They will realize where the true patriots of freedom thrive, and their eyes will turn Southward. And the Southern Cross, as it has for centuries, will lead us all Deo Vindice."

Carolyn Kent, Southern Cross Chapter #2578, UDC!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Stonewall Jackson Vigil

On Thursday, May 9th, 7 Va Flaggers attended the Candlelight Vigil held at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine, at Guinea Station, in Spotsylvania County, VA to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jacksonâ€™s last night on earth.

The event was sponsored by the National Park Service, and for a Thursday evening, I thought the crowd of about 100 or so was respectable. I had the genuine pleasure of meeting Jim Harley, a Va Flagger supporter from South Carolina, who traveled with his parents from South Carolina to attend the Sesquicentennial events.

Confederate color guard presented the colors before the outdoor service started. I honestly did not know what to expect. I had in mind that participants would have candles or possibly light candles to mark the night.

Instead, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Park Historian Frank Oâ€™Reilly gave a very moving lecture, which chronicled the events leading up to and the details of Gen. Jacksonâ€™s last hours. The crowd was very attentive and Mr. Oâ€™Reilly gave an excellent presentation. He did a terrific job of describing that fateful night, and describing the character and faith of Jackson, and I found myself with goose bumps on several occasions, even though the night air was warm.

After the lecture, we filed through the Shrine, which the NPS had lit with candles. It was near dusk and the glow from the candles gave the cottage an appearance which would have been close to what it was like that fateful night in 1863. We walked through in reverent silence, each pausing at the room where Jackson died, to remember and honor one who sacrificed all in service to his God and his Country.

Kudos to the National Park Service for a wonderful and fitting tribute to Stonewall Jackson! If you have never visited the Stonewall Jackson Shrine, I highly recommend making the trip. The staff there is excellent, and each time I go, I am still moved when I step into the room and hear the account of his last hours.

Now, if we could just get them to fly a 2nd National on that big ole' pole out front... ;)

More info on the Shrine here: http://www.nps.gov/frsp/js.htm

Details of the event and more photos here: http://news.fredericksburg.com/newsdesk/2013/05/10/jacksons-last-night-remembered/

Susan Hathaway

Va Flaggers

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