Museum of the Confederacy Insults the Memory of Confederates

The institution formerly known as the Museum of the Confederacy posted photos on its FaceBook page last week of the White House of the Confederacy shrouded in black crepe, with the following explanation...

"One hundred and fifty years ago, Union officials wrapped black fabric around the White House of the Confederacy's front columns after the death of President Lincoln.
Today, Museum curators recreated that mourning decoration. Please come by and see it before it comes down at the end of the month." 

Photos from the American Civil War Museum's Facebook Page

The post can be found here...https://www.facebook.com/AmericanCivilWarMuseum/posts/367665516769412

Although certainly not surprised, we are disgusted by this disgraceful display. 

It was a slap in the face to Richmond residents when the occupying army did this in 1865... and it is a slap in the face to the ladies who created the museum, the memory of the soldiers they worked so hard to honor, and all who have Confederate ancestors for the museum to even consider fashioning such an insulting display in 2015.  Meanwhile, the backlash continues.

We received the following letter last week, and were granted permission to share it. 

April 13, 2015

Dear Mr. Rawls,

I am in receipt of your March 27, 2015 missive requesting that I renew my lapsed membership at the American Civil War Museum, (formerly the Museum of the Confederacy).

I cannot in good conscience continue to support an entity which should fly a Confederate National Flag from all its locations.  I cannot in good conscience support an entity which capriciously changed its name, thereby walking away from its heritage under the sad specter of political correctness.  You should thank your lucky stars that the Southrons who originally donated their war-related, cherished family artifacts, are no longer alive to witness the mockery you have made of their ancestors noble legacy.  Given your new found perspectives concerning the war, you should at the very least, have the decency to resign from the SCV.

My family and I will continue to support the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum in New Orleans, and the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History in Danville, Virginia.  Lastly, given your particular aversion to flying Confederate flags, I have decided to make a $100.00 donation in your name, (cost of sustaining a membership at your museum), to Susan Hathaway's Virginia Flaggers.

Sincerely,

Lou F.

General I. R. Trimble Camp #1836 (member)

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Thank you, Sir!  We appreciate your sharing this excellent letter with us and are grateful for your generous support.  We pledge to be good stewards and use your gift faithfully in our continuing efforts to RETURN the flags and RESTORE the honor!

Sincerely,

Grayson Jennings

Va Flaggers

Va Flaggers: THIRD (SURPRISE!) Memorial Battle Flag Raised in Lexington, Va Today

This afternoon, we were able to get back up to Lexington, and complete the installation of the THIRD (SURPRISE!) Memorial Battle Flag installed since Lee-Jackson Day earlier this year.  :)

While this flag is not quite the size and stature of the previous flags installed, it is likely to have just as much, if not more impact, due to its PRIME location.

We are thrilled to announce that a pole was installed today, and flag raised on private property INSIDE the city of Lexington, IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, located within the block between the Visitor Center of Lexington, and City of Lexington City Hall! 

We would like to once again, thank all of you who so generously supported us, and made it possible to have not just TWO flags in Lexington, BUT THREE (so far)!

LEST WE FORGET!

Susan Hathaway
The Virginia Flaggers

Va Flaggers Update: Charlottesville Braces for a Confederate Flag/Smoke & Mirrors Continues at W&L

"News" report on proposed Memorial Battle Flag in Charlottesville

http://www.c-ville.com/red-flag-group-plans-hoist-confederate-flag/#.VR0_1uHYo4O

"City Councilor Kristin Szakos, who has suggested it might be time to get rid of statues of Lee and Jackson in downtown parks, said she finds it "petty" that the Flaggers want to put up a flagpole here "because they're not from Charlottesville. Why they care, I don't know."

Because WE (the Va Flaggers) are not "from Charlottesville"????...says the woman who is FROM....Long Island, NEW YORK.

Meanwhile, back in Lexington, we wanted to share this photo of the new I-81 flag majestic in splendor in our Shenandoah Valley with the Blue Ridge as a backdrop!

...and this video of the flag on the day of the raising, with photography from Judy Smith Photography and Tredegar DroneWorks.  Absolutely breathtaking...! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfToh0yB3mU&feature=youtu.be

...and a few photos from the ceremony, with special thanks to the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Herman White, who came from North Carolina to join us and speak to those gathered. 

 

When we arrived, skies were gray, temperatures were in the 30's and, snow actually began to fall just as we started the dedication.  However, just a few minutes after the flag was raised, the snow stopped, the clouds moved out, and bright sunshine filled the sky, allowing us the opportunity to take the wonderful photographs we have shared with you.

 

Thanks to all who gathered to attend the ceremony, and to each of the hundreds of supporters who made it possible.

Never passing up an opportunity to forward the colors in Lexington, the Va Flaggers headed to Washington & Lee University after raising the I-81 Battle Flag.

Although the weather was cold and blustery, foot traffic was brisk, and we had many opportunities to talk with students, alumni, and parents.

A perfect ending to a GLORIOUS and very Confederate day in Lexington.

More smoke and mirrors out of Washington & Lee University: 

http://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/lee-chapel-to-reopen-next-week-at-w-l/article_0327e865-df3d-5581-a996-0d18bb510b9f.html

In the article,

"The flag display is in keeping with actions taken by W&L last year after a group of law students complained that such tributes to the Confederacy were offensive to minority students. At the time, university President Kenneth Ruscio said replica flags in the building were being removed because they were not presented in an educational matter.

But Ruscio's announcement left room for displays of genuinely historic flags such as the one to be included in the "Lee in the Field" exhibit. For years, that flag was one of the originals that hung near the "Recumbent Lee" statue in the chapel.

Other battle flags, particularly those with historic connections to W&L and the Lexington area, are planned for future exhibits."

Once again, W&L would have the public, students, and alumni believe that the decision to forcibly remove the replica ANV Battle Flags from the LEE Chapel mausoleum was somehow related to the project to restore and display the original battle flags and that President Ruscio was involved in that project.  This is blatantly FALSE.

The restoration project was part of an agreement between the UDC, The Museum formerly known as the Museum of the Confederacy, and the University. We have been able to secure a copy of this agreement, and while it does call for the removal of the original battle flags for restoration, and for the flags to be properly displayed in glass cases in the museum in the basement of the Chapel, it in NO WAY dictates that the reproduction flags, provided by the SCV as a replacement for the originals, must be removed from the Chapel.

The referenced agreement was made in 1997, long before Mr. Ruscio became President of the University, and yet they expect us to believe that it just so happens that they decided to take the reproduction flags out of the Chapel in July of 2014, as part of a new agreement with the Museum formerly known as the Museum of the Confederacy, not to appease "The Committee".  Do not be fooled by this nonsense.  The authentic flags were removed for restoration and proper display, as they should have been, and special replica flags were made to be displayed in their place. 

The replica flags were removed in July of 2014 for ONE REASON...to appease the demands of SIX agitators from the W&L Law School.

Grayson Jennings
Va Flaggers