The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond controls the historic Confederate Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the Old Soldiers Home.
The property dates from the 1883 sale of a house and 36 acres to R.E. Lee Camp No. 1, Confederate Veterans, for a Confederate soldiers' camp, or home.
Donors to the home included Union veterans from Lynn, Mass., who gave the chapel organ. The chapel, which features stained-glass windows and hand-hewn pews, was dedicated to Confederate war dead in 1887.
The "Robinson House" and the chapel are all that remain of the camp, which operated from 1885 to 1941. After the last veterans died the property was deeded to the commonwealth.
By Executive Order 35 in 1991, the VMFA acts as the governor's agent in leasing the chapel to the SCV.
At its March 31, 2010, meeting the VMFA Board of Trustees' Executive Committee unanimously passed two motions concerning the Confederate Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the Old Soldiers' Home in Richmond: First, the museum would not renew the existing lease as written. Second, the museum "is opposed to flying the Confederate Battle Flag or any of its derivatives on the Museum property."
The new lease called for the removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the portico of the Chapel. The flags were removed in June 1, 2010. In the fall of 2011, concerned citizens began protesting the desecration of the Chapel and the dishonoring of Confederate Veterans, by gathering on the sidewalk in front of the VMFA, carrying Confederate flags.
Coming together to stand against the VMFA, the Virginia Flaggers were born...
As we rang in 2015, the Virginia Flaggers began our 168th week of flagging the VMFA.
Although frigid temperatures arrived in the Capital of the Confederacy, we maintained our vigil, with over 2 dozen Flaggers who joined us over the month, logging over 190 hours on the sidewalk in front of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts...
1-1-15 New Year's Day Flagging! Beautiful day and great conversations on the Boulevard. Lots of residents and tourists out and about and a fabulous day for Flagging the VMFA!
1/3/2015- Chilly temps, light traffic. Flaggers
standing tall!
1-8-2015 FRIGID temps, 29 degrees. Foot traffic
very light, but Confederate flags present and visible for auto traffic and
museum officials and visitors. GOD BLESS THE FLAGGERS!
1-10-2015 The cavalry arrived (Army of Northern
Va, Mechanized, that is)! Chilly but sunny on the Boulevard in Richmond and
the flags of our ancestors flew proudly. 1/2 dozen Flaggers are forwarded the
colors to protest the forced removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the
portico of the Confederate Memorial Chapel and changing hearts and minds in the
Capital of the Confederacy.
1-13-2015 Overcast and 38 degrees in the Capital of the
Confederacy. A half dozen Flaggers made their way to the Virginia Museum of Fine
Arts (VMFA) to protest the forced removal of Confederate Flags from the portico
of the Confederate Memorial Chapel, including a guest Flagger all the way from
ALABAMA! Mid-South Flagger Shannon F flew in for a FLAGcation, spent a few days
visiting Confederate sites around Richmond, and spent the afternoon standing
with us, for his Confederate ancestors, and against museum officials who have
dishonored their memory and desecrated the Confederate Memorial Chapel. God
bless the boys from Alabama! "Audemus jura nostra defendere!"
1-17-2015 While many of us were in Lexington for the
Lee-Jackson weekend, these devoted Flaggers MADE SURE there was a presence at
the
VMFA Virginia Museum
of Fine Arts and forwarded the colors on a sunny, but chilly afternoon...
Standing for Confederate Veterans, and changing hearts and minds!
1-21-2015 Cold, cloudy, and mixed precipitation in the
Capital of the Confederacy, yet Flaggers gathered on the Boulevard and forwarded
the colors to protest the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
(VMFA).
1-24-2015 Light rain and 41 chilly degrees meant little foot
traffic, but steadfast Flaggers made their stand at the
VMFA Virginia Museum of
Fine Arts.
01-29-2015 Thursday evening flagging. 44 degrees and overcast. Almost a
DOZEN Flaggers and clear weather meant plenty of Flaggers to cover the line AND
an opportunity to change hearts and minds in the Capital of the
Confederacy. — at
VMFA Virginia Museum of
Fine Arts.
1-31-2015 Sunny, but chilly day on the Boulevard. Convos were few, but
flags were plentiful. Thank you, Flaggers!
Ready to stand with us? Join us... we will be Flagging WEDNESDAY 2-6, and SATURDAY 1-5 THIS WEEK.
RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!
Grayson Jennings
Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150
info@vaflaggers.com
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http://vaflaggers.blogspot.com/
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