Lexington Group Files Permit to Disrupt Lee-Jackson Memorial Remembrances

“Duty is ours: consequences are God's.” ~ Stonewall Jackson  

In a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peaceful remembrances of Confederate Generals Thomas J “Stonewall” Jackson and Robert E. Lee, the Lexington based group “C.A.R.E. Rockbridge” applied for, and received a permit to hold a parade from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14th, 2017 in Lexington, Virginia, which is the exact time that the Stonewall Brigade Camp SCV, has held a parade since 2000 as part of their commemorations to honor Lee & Jackson on the day officially set aside in Lexington as Lee-Jackson Day.

Over the years, thousands of people have made the pilgrimage to Lexington during the Lee-Jackson weekend to pay their respects to these great men and visit their final resting places. We have been attending since 2011and have always received a warm welcome from the community, and never heard of any Confederate Heritage folks disrupting the Martin Luther King events held the same weekend. This peaceful co-existence was shattered when Lexington City Council approved a permit for C.A.R.E. protestors to hold a parade on Lee-Jackson Day, at the exact time that the Stonewall Brigade has set aside each year for their Memorial service at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery and subsequent parade. There is no question that the timing was intentional and their only motivation is to attempt to disrupt the peaceful exercise of memorial services.

C.A.R.E. listed the reported appearance of hate literature in Lexington over a year ago, the tragedy in Charleston in July, 2015, and a vague reference to “racist” symbols in Lexington as reasons for their actions, NONE of which has any connection to Lee, Jackson, or those who sponsor the events held on Lee-Jackson Day.

If C.A.R.E. truly wanted to “celebrate the diversity within our great town” as they claim, they would be respectful of the heritage and culture of ALL her citizens, including those who choose to honor Lee and Jackson.

In response to this willful attempt to deny citizens the right to honor our history and heritage, the Va Flaggers have applied for a permit to hold a parade on Monday, January 16th, the day set aside to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

In requesting the permit for their parade/protest to disrupt Lee-Jackson Day, C.A.R.E. organizers referenced their intent to honor Dr. King. With this in mind, and in the spirit of unity and “celebrating diversity”, we notified Mayor Elrod and Lexington City Council early this morning of our intentions to offer to effectively “swap” our permits, allowing  “C.A.R.E. Rockbridge” to hold their parade on the MLK holiday, and those who wish to honor Lee & Jackson the free exercise to do so on Lee-Jackson Day, as it should be.