Saturday, June 13, 2015

Jefferson Davis Memorial Service and Other Recent Events

On Saturday, the Virginia Flaggers started the day by attending the Jefferson Davis Memorial Service at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.  We handed out stick flags to attendees, and joined others in presenting a wreath to honor the Confederacy's only President on the anniversary of his birth.


  
Those in attendance reported beautiful weather, and enjoyed an inspiring and spirit-filled keynote address by Rev. Dr. Herman White.



 
A cannon salute from Knibb's Battery closed the service...


 Enjoy this video of a drone's eye view of the salute, courtesy of our friends at Tredegar DroneWorks...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQZ097VfR5w

Following the ceremony, we continued the commemoration by gathering on the Boulevard to protest the desecration of the Confederate Memorial Chapel by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA).




Pedestrian and auto traffic were heavy and there were many opportunities for conversations with residents, museum visitors, and tourists.




Those on the Boulevard reported overwhelming support from those who stopped to chat, and many positive honks and waves from motorists.

The Massing of the Flags at the UDC, just next door to the VMFA, offered the opportunity to speak to many Confederate friends...and flag a few scalawags, including the Director of the Museum FORMERLY known as the Museum of the Confederacy...


A GREAT afternoon on the Boulevard...forwarding the colors, protesting those who have dishonored our Confederate Veterans, and changing hearts and minds in the Capital of the Confederacy!

  
On Sunday, we joined the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery for their summer Military Marker Dedication Day. 




Over the past 6 months, and with the support of many individuals and groups, they have worked hard to obtain and install markers for the following soldiers:

Lt. Col. James W. Spalding, Commander, 60th Virginia Infantry
Captain Asa R. Smith, Co. D. 41st Virginia Infantry
2nd Sergeant Edward W. Jones, Co. H, 15th Virginia Infantry
Private Virginius S. Smith, Co. G, 4th Alabama Infantry
Corporal John T. Sizer, Sr., Co. A, 1st Va. State Reserves
Sergeant Robert H. Thackston, Co. F, 1st Battalion Va. Inf., Loc. Def.
Sergeant George Howard, 2nd Regiment (Ballowe's), Va. Militia (War of 1812)
Lieutenant Frederick S. Gibbon, United States Navy (War of 1812)
The new markers were dedicated in a moving service, in which we were honored to participate.



Congratulations to Clayton Shepherd and all those who worked so hard to make these headstones a reality, and for organizing and hosting this memorial service. Make plans to attend the fall ceremony, October 24th, and contact Clayton Shepherd at cshepherd@shockoehillcemetery.org for more information on how you can help sponsor a marker. 

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!
Grayson Jennings
Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150
info@vaflaggers.com
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