Replacement Flag Rises In Lexington

A replacement flag was raised May 20th, at the Lexington Memorial Battle Flag #3 - Visitor's Center site, thanks to our "Guardians of the flags"!

Last weekend, sometime late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, someone vandalized the flag site, cutting the rope and stealing the 5x8 flag that was originally installed. A police report has been filed and an investigation is underway. Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to contact the Lexington Police Dept, at 540-462-3705.

MEANWHILE, while waiting on a replacement flag to arrive, our volunteers in Lexington raised the cleat on the pole out of the easy reach of trouble makers, installed permanent lighting, and installed cameras which will now monitor the site.

Ironically, thanks to the thief (or thieves), the flag will now light up the night sky in the town of Lexington, and be visible 24/7!

Special thanks to our Guardians of the Flags on the ground in Lexington, who dedicate many hours to the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of our 3 (so far) flag sites, and to YOU, all of our supporters who make these memorials possible!

"For every flag removed, a thousand more will rise to take its place..."

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!
BOYCOTT LEXINGTON!

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
 

Tampa Flag Replacement Campaign Update

Last week we forwarded a request from Mike Herring in Tampa for assistance with raising funds to replace the massive flags they fly at the Confederate Memorial Park/Flag Site on Interstate 75.  I am pleased to report that, as always, the response of our supporters was swift and generous, and would like to thank all those who answered the call!  Here is an update from Mr. Herring...

From: Mshcsa@aol.com
Subject: Tampa Flags

To all,

Thanks to the overwhelming response from supporters all throughout the, Southland we have reached our goal of $2600.00. I have received donations from Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and of course Florida.

Donations ranged from 10.00 to 500.00 so that I can order replacement flags for the Tampa site.The news gets better.

Ruffin Flag Rep Andy Fuqua saw my message on Susan Hathaway's Blog and contacted me last Friday with a offer under the previous cost which saves us $700.00 including free shipping.

My plans are to order the largest ANV Battle and 3rd National flags in the world.

Any donations which arrive this week will be kept in reserve for future flags and I am asking those who are contemplating a donation to send this week or wait till the next year weather pending. Sun, wind and rain are the determining factor with the life of any flag. Remember the flags fly at a height of 139 feet but  are gorgeous in the Florida sunshine.

All this activity results in honouring the Confederate soldier and everyone who contributed can be satisfied with the Southern banners we flay 365 days annually.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions and once again a hearty thank you for making this project a great success. View the attachment for those who have never seen Confederate Memorial Park.

Forward the Colours

Mike Herring
Brandon, Florida
Past Commander
General Jubal A. Early Camp 556

  Raising the World's Largest Third National Flag. Tampa, FL, April, 2013

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers

VMFA/Commonwealth of Va Responsible for Loss of Confederate Memorial Chapel

There are a few misguided individuals, obviously ignorant of the details of the situation at the Confederate Memorial Chapel, who have chosen to try and place the blame for the recent non-renewal of the lease squarely on the shoulders of the Va Flaggers, claiming that our push back efforts are somehow to blame for the non-renewal of the lease. The facts prove otherwise, and are easily available in information revealed in any one of the MANY FOIA requests we have filed over the past (almost) 4 years.

In 2010, a full year and a half before the Virginia Flaggers organized, the Board of Directors of the VMFA voted NOT to renew the Chapel lease with the Lee-Jackson Camp#1, SCV. The Judge Advocate from the camp contacted the Governor of Virginia and advised him of the 1892 contract between the Camp and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Governor then advised the VMFA that they had to renew the lease, but the VMFA then added the flag removal as a condition of the lease renewal. The negotiations went on for months, until the order came down to sign the lease or shut the Chapel doors. Faced with no choice, the lease was signed.

FACT: The VMFA had already decided NOT to renew the lease in 2010, before the Va Flaggers ever stepped foot on the sidewalk in Richmond. As we reported in our release early Friday, this move by the VMFA in 2015 comes as no surprise to anyone who has actually been involved in this fight, although apparently some who lack any kind of first hand knowledge, decided to use the development to attempt to launch ignorant and foolish accusations to besmirch us and stall our efforts.

The folks who are responsible for this reprehensible action are the same ones who were responsible in 2010...the VMFA and the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Anybody who thinks this would have turned out differently if the Va Flaggers had never come into existence is a complete dupe. There is a war against our heritage. Until we have a concerted, cooperative pushback on a massive scale, it will keep happening, until it's all gone.

Grayson Jennings
Virginia Flaggers

P.O. Box 547

Sandston VA 23150

info@vaflaggers.com

Support the I-75 Interstate Flag Memorial in Tampa

Many of you are aware of the beautiful flag site on Interstate 75 in Tampa, and like me, have long appreciated and admired the great work done there.  After speaking at the Raising of the World's Largest Third National Flag in the spring of 2013, and witnessing the awe-inspiring sight of that beautiful flag waving above the interstate,  I was inspired to come back to Virginia and begin a campaign to raise a flag here.  Two years and 6 Flag sites later... we owe a debt a gratitude to the folks in Tampa for their inspiration, assistance, and steadfast support of our efforts.

We received the following email from Michael Herring, asking for assistance in funding the purchase of two new flags for the site.  Last week, at our monthly planning meeting, we took up a collection from our Flaggers to help with the fundraising goal.

We hope all of our supporters will consider lending their support, as you are able, and help to get these flags ordered and up in flying in Tampa, as soon as possible.

To all,

It is time to order replacement flags for the site in Tampa. Confederate Memorial Park will enjoy the 6th anniversary this month and we need 2 new Southern banners to keep the populace aware that Florida and the South stood up to Federal tyranny and lost many of it' sons 1861-1865.

I plan to order a 30 foot by 30 foot Army of Northern Virginia Battle flag and a 30 foot by 50 foot 3rd National. Cost for the 2 flags is currently 2600.00 and this is the first call for action since January of last year. With an onslaught of anti-confederate sentiment occurring almost daily these sites on private property stand as a beacon for liberty and honouring the soldiers who gave the last full measure.

 

Please consider a generous donation by individuals, camps and chapters in the coming days. Any dollars collected exceeding the amount shown above will be held in reserve for future purchases.

Mail your personal check or money order made out to me and thanks for your support.

 

 

Forward the Colours

 

Mike Herring

Mshcsa@aol.com

1434 Misty Valley Drive

Brandon, Florida  CSA  33510

Thank you in advance for considering this worthwhile request.

Susan Hathaway

Va Flaggers

P.O. Box 547

Sandston VA 23150

info@vaflaggers.com

Heritage Assault Continues in Virginia: SCV Evicted from Confederate Memorial Chapel

 

In a move that comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed the situation here, the VMFA (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts) and Commonwealth of Virginia have taken the next step in the Confederate cleansing of Confederate Memorial Park, by evicting the Lee-Jackson Camp #1, SCV from the Confederate Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the Old Soldiers home, refusing to renew a decades-old lease that had allowed them to interpret the history of the Chapel and the Confederate Veterans who lived and died on the grounds of the Old Soldiers' home, seemingly, in direct violation of the Code of Virginia:  https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+57-5 

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/article_310a6c50-9c0c-53a0-9a57-961eeb889c50.html

Moving forward, the VMFA and the Commonwealth will provide the "interpretation", thank you very much!:

"The museum also will develop uniform and professional interpretation of its grounds and historic properties, including the chapel and the Robinson House, which are the only two surviving buildings from the property's original service to Confederate veterans."
We strongly believe that Carpetbaggers and Scalawags have no business "interpreting" OUR history.

In the early 1930's, the Lee-Jackson Camp deeded the land for the VMFA, with the stipulation that the parcel generously donated was to never be expanded, and that the remainder of the grounds would be forever preserved as a Confederate Memorial Park.  Since then, the VMFA and the Commonwealth have continually violated both the spirit and the law of the agreement, to the point where the VMFA has completely taken over the grounds, and paved over most of Confederate Memorial Park.

In 1950, the Attorney General of Virginia wrote an opinion, advising the Governor that neither the VMFA nor the Commonwealth could "legally convey or grant to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts any title, easement or irrevocable privilege to use in any way property now a part of the R. E. Lee Camp Confederate Memorial Park" (See attached)

In 2010, the VMFA and the Commonwealth forced the removal of Confederate flags from the portico of the Chapel, and placed a US flag on the Chapel grounds, both of which are in direct violation of Virginia law.  https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-1812

The ridiculous claim by museum officials (repeated in this article) that the flag removal was some sort of noble attempt at "historically accuracy" has been thoroughly debunked.  Please see:   http://vaflaggers.blogspot.com/2013/09/vmfa-talking-points-debunked-myth-1.html

The Virginia Flaggers began protesting the flag removal in the fall of 2011.  Since then, we have maintained a constant vigil,  forwarding the colors outside of the VMFA  twice a week, every week.  Now that the VMFA and the Commonwealth have kicked the SCV off of the grounds, our presence will be more important than ever, as we will be the ONLY voice for the Confederate Veterans. 

If anything, this latest attack has renewed our commitment and determination.  We will continue our efforts, with new energy and fresh resolve, and hope it will serve as a wake up call for others to join us!

Grayson Jennings

Va Flaggers
"I hold concession or compromise to be fatal. If we concede an inch, concession would follow concession. compromise would follow compromise, until our ranks would be so broken that effectual resistance would be impossible."  John C. Calhoun