2013 Mechanicsville Christmas Parade

 On Sunday, December 8th, we will be marching/riding as a unit in the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade. As many of you know, the Confederate flag and those of us who carry it have become increasingly unpopular in many civic events. There are dozens of well known incidents of Heritage groups being banned, or asked not to carry a Confederate flag, or deliberately left out of parades or community events.

This is not the case in Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Parade. This is a huge parade, with large, Confederate friendly crowds, where the organizers WELCOME our presence. We will be walking, carrying flags, and have a trailer available with seating for those who cannot make the walk. Our friends in the Mechanized Cavalry will also be riding with us again this year! We encourage EVERYONE to join us and make this a Confederate Christmas in Mechanicsville!

All are welcome. The only requirements are that you bring a Confederate flag to carry, and a smile to share with the crowd. We recommend dressing for the weather and Christmas, and wearing comfortable walking shoes, as the route is several miles long.

We will have staging details and more information available two weeks before the parade, but be prepared to arrive betwen 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.

We are asking everyone who can, to bring a bag of candy to share and pass out. We will also be passing out battle flags and Va Flagger information.

Please share this with anyone you think might be interested, and make plans to be a part of this event. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.

Join the VA Flaggers in forwarding the colors, celebrating CHRISTmas, being a part of educating the public about our ancestors and the flags they fought and died under... and changing hearts and minds!

Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/648260771875023/

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers










Contributions to the I-95 Battle Flag projects may be mailed to:
Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150
Payable to Va Flaggers

or through PayPal:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/i95flagdonate.html

Va Flaggers UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thursday, November 7th: Susan will be speaking at the November meeting of the Jackson Rangers, Camp #1917, SCV, Jackson County NC. The meeting is at 6:00 p.m., and is held at the Barker's Creek Community Center.

Saturday, November 9th: 2:00 p.m. Flag rededication at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC

Sunday, December 8th: 3:00 p.m. - Mechanicsville Christmas Parade, Downtown Mechanicsville, VA - The Va Flaggers are participating in the parade and invite everyone to join us. We will have Flaggers walking, riding, and the Mechanized Cavalry is joining us again this year! Bring your flag and enjoy the afternoon in a VERY Confederate friendly environment. :)

Friday, January 18th - Saturday, January 19th: Lee-Jackson State Holiday/Flagging/Memorial Events, Lexington, Va

Saturday, February 1st: Susan will travel to Statesboro, GA to speak at the Lee-Jackson Banquet, held by the Ogeechee Rifles, Camp #941, SCV. RJ's Restaurant, 454 South Main St. (US 301 S.) @ 6 pm for the meal, preliminaries @ 7 pm and the program immediately following. Seating limited to 125. Ticket information forthcoming at a later date.

Saturday, February 22nd: Susan will be speaking at the February meeting of the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy Camp #2141, SCV, Fredericksburg, VA. 4:00 p.m., Perkins Restaurant, 10 Simpson Rd.

Tuesday, March 4th: Susan will be speaking at the March meeting of the R.E Lee Camp #1589, SCV. Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant, 2401 Colony Crossing Place, Midlothian, VA 23112. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. and meeting at 7:00 p.m.

April 19, 2014: Susan will be traveling to Quincy, FL to speak at the Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Soldier's Cemetery, sponsored by the Finley's Brigade, SCV.

A Visit to Seven Springs, North Carolina

On Saturday, October 19th, I traveled to Seven Springs, North Carolina at the invitation of the gentlemen of The Confederate States Armory, Kenansville Camp #2157 SCV.  They were meeting to raise a new 10x15 battle flag at the Whitehall Confederate Monument.

 

The monument, dedicated in 2008, was erected in memory of the 13 men who died in the Battle of Whitehall.  My friend, Brock Townsend had encouraged me to look on the back for his grandfather's quote.  I was not disappointed: 

"I say we cannot know your suffering, but this we do know; We love and honour you, veterans, and are justly proud of the heritage you have given us. Just so long as warm blood flows in the veins of man, so long will the words 'Confederate Veteran' cause that blood to tingle with glorious pride, and, if there be one among us, born in our glorious Southland who is not so thrilled, every drop of stagnant blood proclaims him bastard to the South-a coward to all the world."  Joseph Powell Pippen, Esq.

 

I was very honored to witness the raising of the new flag, which flies daily as a memorial to ALL of our Confederate Soldiers, and proud to join these fine men in paying tribute to the men who died at Whitehall.  Although it was rainy on the trip down, the clouds moved out and the sun shone brightly at Whitehall Confederate Park throughout the ceremony.

Video of Flag Raising:  http://www.youtube.com/edit?ns=1&video_id=S9yiV9lVdIo

Dan Boyettte shared a bit of the history of the property.  The land on which the monument sits was all originally part of the Sutton Farm.  Before leaving, I drove across the street and down a path to the Sutton family cemetery. 

Eight Sutton brothers brothers served in the Confederacy. 5 are buried here. All are memorialized. LEST WE FORGET!

____________________

I-95 Battle Flag Projects UPDATE:
Chester Flag Site:  We are pleased to report that the final inspection for the (bogus, appeasement, after-the-fact) building permit passed last week!  A new access road was also cut, with VDOT approval, so that tree removal and trimming can resume soon, which will greatly improve the visibility from I-95, Dominion Power is scheduled to run power in a few weeks, and plans are being finalized for a fence for added security, although there have been no reports of any attempts to desecrate or vandalize the memorial since the flag was raised.

Confederate friendly neighbors who are keeping an eye on the property, report that many folks are stopping to admire the flag and take photos,

We would like to thank each of you who have contributed to the success of this project, and for your continued support as we work to finish up the site at Chester, and look forward to continuing the projects elsewhere in the Commonwealth...and beyond.

Susan Hathaway
VaFlaggers

Contributions to the I-95 Battle Flag project may be mailed to:

Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150

Payable to Va Flaggers

or through PayPal:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/i95flagdonate.html

Va Flaggers UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thursday, November 7th:  Susan will be speaking at the November meeting of the Jackson Rangers, Camp #1917, SCV, Jackson County NC.  The meeting is at 6:00 p.m., and is held at the Barker's Creek Community Center. 
Saturday, November 9^th:  2:00 p.m. Flag rededication at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC

Friday, January 18th - Saturday, January 19th:  Lee-Jackson State Holiday/Flagging/Memorial Events, Lexington, Va

Saturday, February 1st:  Susan will travel to Statesboro, GA to speak at the Lee-Jackson Banquet, held by the Ogeechee Rifles, Camp #941, SCV.  RJ's Restaurant, 454 South Main St. (US 301 S.) @ 6 pm for the meal, preliminaries @ 7 pm and the program immediately following.  Seating limited to 125.  Ticket information forthcoming at a later date.

Saturday, February 22nd:  Susan will be speaking at the February meeting of the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy Camp #2141, SCV, Fredericksburg, VA.  4:00 p.m., Perkins Restaurant, 10 Simpson Rd. 
April 19, 2014:  Susan will be traveling to Quincy, FL to speak at the Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Soldier's Cemetery, sponsored by the Finley's Brigade, SCV.

Va Flaggers Flagging Report/Call to Action!

Saturday, October 19th saw an overcast, damp day in Richmond, Virginia, but even so...18 FLAGGERS made their way to the Boulevard to forward the colors, and protest the removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the portico of the Confederate Memorial Chapel by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). There were many opportunities like this one to talk to passers-by about the honor and valor of our Confederate Veterans, and educate them about the flags they fought and died under.

 

More photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282128401912452.1073741956.186485551476738&type=1

The Va Flaggers will be out on the sidewalk again TODAY, Thursday, October 24th, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. JOIN US...and be a part of those taking a stand for our ancestors, and against those who have desecrated a Confederate Memorial.

If you cannot be there, PLEASE support the troops on the ground by making a phone call. It is important that we CONTINUE to let Museum Officials know how we feel about the desecration of the Chapel. Call the Director's office at (804) 340-1500 TODAY and ask them to return the flags and restore the honor. The Flaggers will be holding the line...won't you take a few minutes to support them? EVERY call makes a difference!

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!

TriPp Lewis
Va Flaggers









Thursday, October 24th : 3:00 p.m. - Dusk - Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard

Saturday, October 26th: 12:00 Noon - 4:00 p.m. - Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard

Thursday, November 7th: Susan will be speaking at the November meeting of the Jackson Rangers, Camp #1917, SCV, Jackson County NC. The meeting is at 6:00 p.m., and is held at the Barker's Creek Community Center.

Saturday, November 9th: 2:00 p.m. Flag rededication at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC

Friday, January 18th - Saturday, January 19th: Lee-Jackson State Holiday/Flagging/Memorial Events, Lexington, Va

Saturday, February 1st: Susan will travel to Statesboro, GA to speak at the Lee-Jackson Banquet, held by the Ogeechee Rifles, Camp #941, SCV. RJ's Restaurant, 454 South Main St. (US 301 S.) @ 6 pm for the meal, preliminaries @ 7 pm and the program immediately following. Seating limited to 125. Ticket information forthcoming at a later date.

Saturday, February 22nd: Susan will be speaking at the February meeting of the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy Camp #2141, SCV, Fredericksburg, VA. 4:00 p.m., Perkins Restaurant, 10 Simpson Rd.

April 19, 2014: Susan will be traveling to Quincy, FL to speak at the Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Soldier's Cemetery, sponsored by the Finley's Brigade, SCV.

Contributions to the I-95 Battle Flag project may be mailed to:
Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150

Payable to Va Flaggers

or through PayPal:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/i95flagdonate.html

VMFA Talking Point Debunked...Myth #2: Interpretive Signs

VMFA: “We have installed permanent plaques that discuss the significance and history of the site. The texts were reviewed by the Department of Historic Resources, Charlie Bryan, Waite Rawls, and Ed Ayers to ensure that the information we presented was accurate."

Va Flaggers: Firstly, the installation of such signage would be expected, considering the historical significance of the Chapel and the grounds. What would not be expected, is that the act of doing so would somehow be used as a discussion point to take the spotlight off of the removal of the Confederate Battle Flags from the Confederate War Memorial. Does one act somehow nullify the immorality and illegality of the other?

Secondly, a cursory glance by one of our Flaggers revealed that VMFA officials might want to reconsider their choice of “experts” in the future. The signage about the three National Flags of the Confederacy is incorrect. The picture of the 1st National is depicted with the measurements of the 2nd National, while the 2nd National is shown with 1st and 3rd National dimensions.

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!

TriPp Lewis
Va Flaggers

Remembering Gen. Robert E. Lee - A Northern Perspective

"On a quiet autumn morning, in the land which he loved so well and served so faithfully, the spirit of Robert Edward Lee left the clay which it had so much ennobled and traveled out of this world into the great and mysterious land. Here in the North, forgetting that the time was when the sword of Robert Edward Lee was drawn against us—forgetting and forgiving all the years of bloodshed and agony—we have long since ceased to look upon him as the Confederate leader, but have claimed him as one of ourselves; have cherished and felt proud of his military genius; have recounted and recorded his triumphs as our own; have extolled his virtue as reflecting upon us—for Robert Edward Lee was an American, and the great nation which gave him birth would be today unworthy of such a son if she regarded him lightly.

“Never had mother a nobler son. In him the military genius of America was developed to a greater extent than ever before. In him all that was pure and lofty in mind and purpose found lodgment. Dignified without presumption, affable without familiarity, he united all those charms of manners which made him the idol of his friends and of his soldiers and won for him the respect and admiration of the world. Even as in the days of triumph, glory did not intoxicate, so, when the dark clouds swept over him, adversity did not depress." 

New York Herald, on the death of Gen Robert E Lee, October 12, 1870

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers

An Excellent Letter

Many thanks to this Virginia Citizen, who took the time yesterday to contact his legislators regarding the desecration of the Confederate Memorial Chapel in Richmond, by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts...

Dear Delegate Hodges and others,

As a Virginia citizen, and a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Headquarters Camp #584, and a proud descendant of more than 8 brave Virginians, who served this state as volunteers in the Confederate Army from Virginia, to defend Virginia from invasion by the Northern Federal Army, I officially request your assistance.

Please exercise and take whatever legislative action that is available to you, to require that the management of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, reverse their decision, and to have the Confederate flag be re-installed and flown at the Confederate Chapel in Richmond, Va. daily, as it has been for so many, many years, in respect to our Southern Countrymen at this designated Confederate heritage site.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAS NO STANDING, this flag was flying long before such nonsense existed, and this issue should be corrected.

Will you assist me and many thousands more Virginia citizens, and others that I am not officially representing such as the members of the Virginia Flaggers and others, who are also desiring that this issue be hastily corrected.

Respectfully
Carlton D.
Urbanna, Va.

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR EXCELLENT LETTER!

Have you written to your State Legislators? If not, why not take a few minutes and do so? If yes, why not write them again? Use this form to get contact information for your legislators and send a letter TODAY! http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/VGAMain?openform

Thursday, October 3rd was a beautiful evening, and a dozen Flagger gathered on the sidewalk outside of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, spreading the line around  the block...

Saturday, October 5th saw 8 Flaggers on the Boulevard, with several new Flaggers making their first trip to forward the colors...

CALL TO ACTION!

FLAGGING THE VMFA, SATURDAY,  October 12th, Noon - 4:00 p.m. Join the Va Flaggers as we forward the colors, protest the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and their forced removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the Confederate Memorial Chapel, and spend an afternoon changing hearts and minds in the Capital of the Confederacy.

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!

Grayson Jennings
Va Flaggers

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, October 12th:  12:00 Noon - 4:00 p.m. - Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard

Thursday, October 17th:  3:00 p.m. - Dusk - Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard

Thursday, November 7th:  Susan will be speaking at the November meeting of the Jackson Rangers, Camp #1917, SCV, Jackson County NC.  The meeting is at 6:00 p.m., and is held at the Barker's Creek Community Center.

Saturday, November 9th:  2:00 p.m. Flag rededication at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC

Friday, January 18th - Saturday, January 19th:  Lee-Jackson State Holiday/Flagging/Memorial Events, Lexington, Va

Saturday, February 1st:  Susan will travel to Statesboro, GA to speak at the Lee-Jackson Banquet, held by the Ogeechee Rifles, Camp #941, SCV.  RJ's Restaurant, 454 South Main St. (US 301 S.) @ 6 pm for the meal, preliminaries @ 7 pm and the program immediately following.  Seating limited to 125.  Ticket information forthcoming at a later date.

Saturday, February 22nd:  Susan will be speaking at the February meeting of the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy Camp #2141, SCV, Fredericksburg, VA.  4:00 p.m., Perkins Restaurant, 10 Simpson Rd.

April 19, 2014:  Susan will be traveling to Quincy, FL to speak at the Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Soldier's Cemetery, sponsored by the Finley's Brigade, SCV.















Contributions to the I-95 Battle Flag projects may be mailed to:
Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150

Payable to Va Flaggers

or through PayPal:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/i95flagdonate.html

In Memory and Honor of Our Confederate Dead

"Dear Va Flaggers,

In the raising and continually flying of the Confederate Battle Flag along Interstate 95, I would like to give this donation in memory of two of my Great Great Grandfathers. They are Julius Kindervarter of Company M, 2nd Virginia State Reserves, and Thomas H. Shepherd of Company F, 44th Virginia Infantry.

May God bless every one of you and may we never forget the Confederate Veterans and the honor that they so respectfully deserve."

Dennis N.
Glen Allen, VA

Photo: Corporal Samuel H. Overton of A Company, 44th Virginia Infantry Regiment and A Company, 20th Battalion Virginia Heavy Artillery Regiment in uniform and kepi with bayoneted musket

Va Flaggers