Bill to Remove Last Confederate Monuments Standing in Richmond Unexpectedly Dies in Budget Committee

 

In an unexpected development, a bill in the Virginia Senate to get rid of the last remaining Confederate statues in Richmond was killed by a House committee, but it is unlikely that democrats will let up in their all out assault on Virginia's history and heritage. 

A statue honoring Confederate General Stonewall Jackson stands in the most prominent spot in all of Capitol Square. That statue, along with two others honoring noble Virginians who contributed to the defense of Virginia during the War for Southern Independence, was about to be removed because of a bill that passed the Senate that was included in the Senate budget. Unexpectedly, a House committee killed the bill last week at the last minute as budget negotiations between the House and Senate broke down. Former Senator Adam Ebbin of Alexandria introduced the bill to ditch the statues, and he says he's hopeful the effort will be resurrected during the budget special session next month.

 "I would have preferred the bill passed just to make it explicit, but I'm confident that it’ll be in the final budget agreement," Ebbin says. "And I'm very hopeful that that will prevail."

Unfortunately, legislation to strip several of of Virginia's honorable historical societies of their property tax exemption and to discontinue license plates honoring Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veterans did pass. The license plate measure was introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer, a Democrat from Fairfax County.

"Virginia needs to end itself being in the business of celebrating traitors who killed American soldiers to defend slavery," says Helmer. "That's not who we need to be as a country, and we're going to finish the job of making sure that America is about celebrating all Americans."  Both measures passed along strict party lines with ALL democrats voting for the bills, and ALL Republicans voting against them. 

Governor Youngkin vetoed similar legislation in 2024 and 2025, rightfully citing the "inappropriate precedent" of targeting organizations out of hate and spite.  Spanberger has until April 13th to make a decision about the Confederate license plates and tax exemption bills, but is expected to abide by the wishes of the handful demanding these changes, just as Democrats in the legislature did, and despite the fact that polls have repeatedly found that the majority of Virginians are AGAINST such measures. 

Lawmakers are expected to return to Richmond to strike a deal on the budget April 23rd.  
 

 

Contact Governor Spanberger and ask her to stop the nonsense and VETO HB167 and HB1344.

Online contact portal here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/contact/

Phone: 804-786-2211

Email: abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov

Mail:

Governor of Virginia

Abigail Spanberger

P.O Box 1475

Richmond, VA 23218
 

Bill details here: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB167 and  https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1344  

*Graphic courtesy of Judy Smith Photography

Remembering the Life of Southern Heritage Activist HK Edgerton

 

OBITUARY
Harold Kenneth “HK” Edgerton
February 18, 1948 – January 18, 2026


Harold Kenneth Edgerton “HK,” 77, went to be with his Lord and Savior and his family and Southern heroes and family on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Asheville Veterans Administration Medical Center in Asheville, NC.

He was born in Asheville, NC on February 18, 1948, to Roland Roger Edgerton and Anna B. Edgerton.

Mr. Edgerton is survived by his brothers, Rashad Hasan of Stone Mountain, Georgie, Terry Lee Edgerton and sister Obra Elaine Hall and “Favorite Niece” Danielle Hall, Niece Shykita Hill, Nephews Corey Edgerton and Darius Edgerton, and a host of Great Nieces and Nephews of Asheville, North Carolina.

Mr. Edgerton graduated Asheville High School in 1967 and served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam as Signal Corp Instructor at Fort Monmouth, NJ 1969-1972.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 with a B.S. While in college, he was Chairman of the Board of the United Way Agency that was responsible for running the Sabathani Community Center in south Minneapolis. He founded the University of Minnesota Black Student Center and served on the Student Regent Board of Directors.

He served as an intern for the Green Giant Company, Customer Service Engineer for International Business Machines (IBM), and later he and his brother Terry Lee owned and operated Edgerton and Edgerton Office Products in Fullerton, California from 1981-1989. He later consulted with APAC, a Fortune 500 company.

He returned to Asheville to serve his hometown in various roles after his retirement including serving as Chairman of the Program Planning and Implementation Committee for the Asheville-Buncombe County Drug Commission, first as Vice President and later as President of the Asheville Branch of the NAACP and conducted a bid for Mayor of the City of Asheville. He received the Citizen of the Year Award.

He was a supporter and leader of youth sports and education, including being a volunteer and founder of the Boys and Girls Golf Team at Shiloh Community Center in Asheville and volunteer coach at Oakley Middle School for girl’s and boys’ basketball. He was a teacher’s aide at Ira B. Jones Elementary School.

He was best known for his Southern civil rights activism. He saw the people of the South being discriminated against and he fought vigorously to support them. He frequently appeared in the news and was featured in an episode of Penn and Teller. He gained international recognition during his Historical March Across Dixie which began in Asheville in 2002 at the now-removed Asheville, NC Vance Monument, and culminated January 26, 2003 in Austin, TX. The March brought attention to the decision by then Governor George W. Bush to remove historic plaques from the Texas Supreme Court Building by marching donned in the uniform of a Confederate Soldier carrying the Confederate Battle Flag.

He was a plaintiff in several lawsuits including against the U.S. Army to prevent the removal of the Reconciliation Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. He authored an Open Letter and Report on his activities for two decades and was a frequent public speaker on Southern History and served as an expert witness in two lawsuits.

He was widely acclaimed for his efforts and received the Key to the City of Carthage, Texas and the Key to the City of Toccoa, Georgia, the Horace L. Hunley Award from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Gen. Robert E. Lee Medal from The Virginia Division, SCV, the Jefferson Davis Medal from the Texas Division, UDC, SC Division SCV, Lifetime Achievement Award, North Carolina Order of Confederate Rose, John F. Harris Award, Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans and others.

He was a member of numerous organizations including Chairman Board of Advisors Emeritus Southern Legal Resource Center, Save Southern Heritage Florida, Founder, Veterans Defending Arlington, Honorary Scots of Austin, Honorary Life Member North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose, Honorary Life Member Jackson Rangers Camp 1917 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Associate Member Abner Baker Chapter 2614 United Daughters of the Confederacy, Honorary Member of Augusta Jane Evans Wilson, Chapter 2640 UDC, and the Judah P. Benjamin Camp 2210, SCV, Honorary Life Member, Longstreet Zollicoffer Camp 87 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Member Simonton-Wilcox Camp 257 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Life Member, Zebulon Baird Vance Camp 15, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Member Maria Baker Lemmon, TN OCR #25, Honorary Life Member, Forest Orphans Camp 1744, Sons of Confederate Veterans Honorary, Camp Commander, Granbury, Texas Brigade Camp 1479 Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Honorary Life Member Bradford Rose Camp 1638 Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep after a prolonged illness arising from the COVID vaccine.

Final arrangements will be announced in the future and planning is underway. For more information visit: https://forms.gle/XE3627EHgc2xZNF76 

Charlie Kirk - Martyr for Truth and Freedom

 

Yesterday's violent assassination of Charlie Kirk has made one thing abundantly clear.  

This is spiritual warfare, friends. Good vs evil. The wicked rage when good men stand up and speak out on the authority of the Word of God. Charlie Kirk refused to be silenced. He would not hide. He told young people that they should get married, have babies, work hard, respect the law, love their country, and return to their faith. Millions listened. Millions followed his example. For this, he was murdered.

They think that by silencing Charlie they can stop the revival. But they can’t, because what they don’t yet realize is that wicked men cannot stop what God has ordained. Jesus has already won the victory.

Charlie stepped into glory yesterday.  Of this, anyone who followed him has no doubt. It is up to us to continue the work on earth until God calls us home. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:2 KJV.

 

His  voice of reason will be greatly missed. 

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Virginia Governor VETOES Democrats' Attempt to Punish Historical Societies

In a flurry of last minute action on a number of bills, Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed House Bill 1699, a bill that passed the Virginia Legislature with almost no Republican support, and would have stripped selected non-profit historical groups of property tax exemptions that have been in place for decades.  Read more here

In his decision, Governor Youngkin lashed out at Democrats for their selective targeting of groups that they don't like for punishment, and chastised them for refusing his suggestion of studies to reform the process.

This is the second attempt by Democrats to punish Confederate Historical Societies in as many years, and the second veto by Governor Youngkin. 

When this bill made its way through the legislature this session,  Delegates Carrie Coyner (75th District)  and AC Cordova (86th District) were the only Republicans to vote to pass the bill. BOTH of these legislators also voted FOR the hateful bill last year AND the failed attempt to revoke our Robert E Lee plates, and should be held accountable for their actions in joining hands with Democrats to pass these bills.

 

 

 

 

Woke attempts to censure and erase history in the Commonwealth have proven unpopular with the majority of citizens, and the Governor's office heard from thousands of constituents who requested he VETO this bill.  As  Virginian's prepare for upcoming elections, they are asking pointed questions of candidates, many unwilling to support those who will not pledge to stand up to the radical left on this issue.  

 

 

 

 

 

Virginia Governor Faces Dealine to Veto WOKE Bill Designed to Dismantle Historicla Groups in Virginia

Across the country, localities are pushing back against the left's radical agenda to erase our history and heritage.  Several states have pending bills that will add or strengthen war memorial protection laws, as citizens, weary of the woke policies of the past few years, work to elect representatives and leaders who will not cater to the demands of our modern day carpetbaggers and scalawags.  

In Virginia, the democratically controlled legislature continues its assault.  This session, monument protection bills, simply calling for referendums before removal, were killed in committee by democrats, while a bill to yank the property tax exemption status on several of Virginia's finest historical and benevolent societies passed through both houses.  Last year, Governor Youngkin vetoed similar legislation after a flood of constituent communications, and considering the statement that was made with President Trump's decisive victory on the same platform, it is expected he will do the same this year, but not guaranteed.  He has not publicly commented on the matter.  

The veto deadline is midnight Monday, March 24th.  He has until then to sign the bill, veto it, or take no action, in which case the bill would become law.  

Contact Governor Youngkin:   

Use this online form: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/communicating-with-the.../
Phone: 804-786-2211
Email: glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov

High Bridge Flag Fight: Judge Rules to Quash Subpoenas of County Officials

 

 

 

 

In the ongoing fight to force the removal of a memorial battle flag, judge Robert Downing ruled yesterday that Prince Edward County officials, including members of the Board of Supervisors, do not have to testify as to the motive for a flurry of new zoning laws that put numerous restrictions on citizens who want to fly flags on private property, passed after emergency sessions held just days after the flag was raised and dedicated.  In a hearing on the county's motion to quash subpoenas that had been issued by the landowner's attorney, Judge Downing agreed to approve the motion and quash the subpoenas, noting that he does not need to investigate the reason the zoning laws were enacted to decide the case. 

Although the county has lost at every attempt to have the 80' pole removed, after both its own Board of Zoning Appeals and a Circuit Court Judge agreed that there was no grounds to force its removal, it continues its persecution of one of their citizens.  In the latest criminal charges, county officials have pulled an obscure ordinance out of the bevy of new laws passed in response to the flag raising, and are claiming that when the flag was changed out due to weather and wear and tear, it constituted the erection of a new "sign" when the replacement flag was raised and now must conform to the new "sign" (flag) laws, which would limit the flag size to 1/2 of its current size, making it out of proportion with the pole size.  

During the proceedings yesterday, the attorney for the county made it clear that all charges would be dropped and the case dismissed if the landowner simply complied to their wishes and put up a smaller flag.   

That's not going to happen.  This case is clearly an attempt by the county to force a property owner out of the fight by outspending them and forcing them to give up.  A recent FOIA request found that the county has spent over $120,000 of taxpayer dollars on attorney fees for just the first set of legal proceedings THEY initiated. They have apparently greatly underestimated us, the landowner, and the fighting spirit we inherited from the very men that are honored by this sacred memorial.

PLEASE NOTE:   Due to circumstances beyond our control, the trial slated for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 24th has been POSTPONED. Please stay tuned for more details and updates. 

Contact the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors here. 

Contribute to the fund to assist with mounting legal fees  here

The Virginia Flaggers' Farmville Rt. 460 High Bridge Memorial Battle Flag was raised and dedicated in April, 2022 in memory and honor of the Confederate soldiers who died in battles in and around the area at the close of the War Between the States.  

PRINCE EDWARD FLAG FIGHT HEATS UP AS COUNTY MOVES TO QUASH SUBPOENAS

 

ATTORNEYS IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY FILE MOTION TO SUPPRESS SUBPOENAS AHEAD OF FLAG HEARING

In Prince Edward County, Virginia, a county citizen has been unfairly harassed and persecuted for over 2 years, since installing a Memorial Flag on private property.  Although a building permit was obtained and final inspection passed, county leaders met shortly after The Virginia Flaggers’ Rt 460 High Bridge Memorial Battle flag was raised and dedicated to determine how to force its removal after fielding complaints from a handful of citizens. 

After multiple zoning law changes and once numerous legal maneuvers and appeals by the Board of Supervisors failed in the attempt to force the flag pole removal, county officials drummed up a NEW set of charges, this time based on flag size, and has threatened the landowner with jail time and hefty fines if she does not remove the flag and replace it with a much smaller one.  Refusing to  comply with laws that were obviously put in place AFTER the flag was raised and ONLY because of the content of the flag, the landowner has been served with a warrant to appear at a hearing scheduled in court next week.

Ahead of that hearing, the attorney for the landowner issued subpoenas to have every member of the Board of Supervisors as well as the County Administrator appear at the hearing and give an answer for their decisions and actions in the continued and discriminatory harassment.  Late last week, the attorney for the county filed a motion to quash these subpoenas, arguing that the testimony of these officials would “not be relevant nor material” to the case. 

Citizens of Prince Edward County are left frustrated and angry.  What do members of the Board of Supervisor and County Administrator have to hide?  Why don’t they want the public to hear the details why they made these decisions and continue to throw hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars at persecuting one of their own citizens.  Many are furious at the costly attempts to deny this landowner her First Amendment rights, especially considering that property taxes are soaring, crime is skyrocketing, and county schools remain in disrepair. 

A hearing on this motion to quash will be held Monday, February 24^th at 2:00 pm in General District Court in Farmville.  The full hearing is scheduled for  Wednesday, February 26^th at 2:00 pm, same courtroom.    

Contact the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors here. 

Contribute to the fund to assist with mounting legal fees  here