Shad Planking Goes PC - Wakefield Ruritan Boots Confederate Heritage Group From Annual Event

The annual Shad Planking in Wakefield, Virginia was at one time the biggest political event in the Commonwealth. It offered citizens a chance to interact with candidates one on one and was an event that allowed all Virginians to have a voice. 

Scenes like this one in 2011, captured by the media were common place. 

In 2013, the Virginia Flaggers attended the event and were able to give some scalawag politicians a pretty good flagging, in spite of the entourage/bouncers they had with them... Apparently, this did not sit well with some of the establishment candidates.  When we returned the following year, new signs were in place... In spite of the new restrictions, our exhibitor booth enjoyed heavy traffic and great support.  We were told we were one of the most popular booths at the Shad Planking.  We exhausted our supply of stickers, flags, and cold drinks by the end of the day and had a great time chatting with citizens and politicians.  We participated as an exhibitor in 2014 and 2015 with great success and without any word from the Wakefield Ruritan of any problems or issues. We sat out 2016 due to scheduling issues, and were excited to return in 2017 and have the chance to get back to the event. Our application and payment for exhibitor space was mailed on March 13th, 2017.  On March 22nd, the Wakefield Ruritan notified us that our application had been rejected.  Our check was returned with a letter stating "the Wakefield Ruritan Club reserves the right to reject applicants", no other explanation, and instructions to contact Chris Simms, Festival Chairman if we had any questions. There was no reply to our email to Mr. Simms, asking for an explanation.   It is obvious that the Wakefield Ruritan is bowing to the pressure of the politically correct establishment and the liberal left.  In 2016 they hired a PR firm to help make the event more "welcoming" to all. http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-shad-planking-preview-20160325-story.html Apparently, Southern Heritage does not fit the new image of the "Shads, Grapes, and Grain Festival".   From their website: Contact the Shad, Grapes and Grains Festival (804) 731-5236 info@shadplanking.com P.O. Box 148 Wakefield, VA 23888 www.shadplanking.com

Welcome to Virginia! Massive Confederate Flag Flies Again on I-95 in Fredericksburg

The Virginia Flaggers are pleased to announce that the I-95 Fredericksburg Memorial Battle Flag is flying high once again, with several new improvements.

Last month, the original rope broke and the task of getting a lift back to the site to make repairs turned out to be quite a challenge.  We were finally able to complete the work earlier this week, and a new 20x30 Battle Flag was raised Wednesday evening. Along with a new rope and flag, we were thrilled to place the first of our new flag pole toppers, a beautiful Confederate Cross of Honor.  It turned out even more stunning than we had invisioned and we hope to add them to all of our original and future sites in the coming months. In addition, we have started adding "tattoos" to our poles, marking the date of the dedication.   Many thanks to Rhett Ingram and the Stafford crew who assisted him in getting this one back up and flying, just in time to welcome spring break travelers to Confederate Virginia! This photo was sent in from a passer-by today... Finally, for your information, Our Guardians of the Flags were busy yesterday lowering our Highway Memorial Battle Flags across the Commonwealth, in preparation for severe storms expected over the next 24-48 hours. In an attempt to save wear and tear on the flags and poles, we make every effort to remove the flags ahead of high winds. The flags will return once the threat has passed and it is safe for our volunteers to raise them once again. As always, we wish to offer our most sincere thanks to all of those who help watch over, protect, and maintain our 25 flag sites in Virginia. God bless the Guardians of the Flags!

Rockbridge County TCO Board to Vote on "Appropriateness" of Confederate Flag Today

Since our last report, we have been very busy and have much to share, starting with recent developments in Lexington, Virginia. As you may recall, at the request of the landowner, we temporarily removed the 60 West Memorial Battle Flag pole and flag that was raised on Lee-Jackson Day earlier this year. Since then, we have filed a request for a "Certificate of Appropriateness" from the Rockbridge County Tourism Corridor Overlay Board.  Our application is on the agenda to be discussed and voted on by the board at its monthly meeting at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. http://www.co.rockbridge.va.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04052017-401 We have also filed for a building permit for the same site, to reinstall the flag and pole once the certificate is issued. In the meantime, the fallout from the harassment by Rockbridge County has been swift and overwhelming.  We have applied for and received a building permit to double the size of the first flag site at Jackson's Farm on Rt. 60 East on the east size of Lexington.  What was a 50' pole will soon be 100'.   We also have several new interstate sites under development in Lexington, and this order of poles is complete and will be shipping soon...

Over a dozen landowners on Rt. 60 in Lexington have contacted us about having memorial battle flags placed on their property.  We are in the process of reaching out to each one and lining up the installations. Thanks, Rockbridge County. You effectively traded one flag (temporarily) for a whole mess of new ones. One day these people are going to learn to LEAVE US ALONE. As always, we appreciate your continued and generous support.  We have no intention of backing down. "Obstacles may retard, they cannot long prevent, the progress of a movement sanctified by its justice and sustained by a virtuous people." -- Jefferson Davis

Oakwood Cemetery (Richmond) Confederate Memorial Day Service Scheduled for May 13th

Confederate Memorial Day Service, Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia In 2014, the Virginia Flaggers revived a grand tradition of holding a Confederate Memorial Day Service at Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond. This year, we are once again holding a ceremony, and invite all to attend. We are excited to have Ronnie Roach, SCV Army of Northern Virginia Commander as our Keynote speaker, and the service will include a processional, music by Pipe Major David Hinton, a Confederate Color and Honor Guard, other special guests, and a wreath laying ceremony. Attendees in period attire wishing to participate in the processional through the cemetery, please arrive by 10:30 a.m. FREE to the public, free parking, handicapped parking is available and the service will be interpreted for the hearing impaired.  All are welcome. Email info@vaflaggers.com to bring greetings from your organization and/or lay a wreath. Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/400949256942194/ Photos from last year's service here:  https://www.facebook.com/JudyPSmithPhotography/photos/a.533489976776292.1073742481.186485551476738/533493546775935/?type=3&theater

Lexington 60 West Memorial Battle Flag Update - "The Flag is Not Coming Down"

As you may recall, Rockbridge county officials learned of our plans to raise a Confederate Battle Flag Memorial late on the Wednesday afternoon before Lee-Jackson Day in January. By the following morning, they had managed to gather enough information to put together a letter warning against the installation. This was followed up with a site visit by Sam Crickenberger, director of Community Development in Rockbridge County, in which the owner of the business that operates on the property reported that Crickenberger called him an {expletive} “for putting up a rebel flag”. Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrYKL7sSUDo Curiously, since that confrontation, Rockbridge County officials have gone out of their way to let everyone know that their actions have “absolutely nothing” to do with the fact that a Confederate flag flies on the pole…and Mr. Crickenberger has all but disappeared from the discussion. After the Lee-Jackson Day flag raising, Rockbridge County immediately followed with a letter with alleged code violations and instructions to remove the pole and flag. Today, Monday March 6th is the day that Rockbridge County had warned that they were going to start fining us if the pole was not removed. We have been prepared for this likelihood and have several supporters lined up to pay whatever fines are incurred. The flag is not coming down. We maintain our position that the pole and flag do not violate any state or local statutes. The county is insisting that the pole and flag be approved by its “Tourism Corridor Overlay” (TCO) board before a building permit can be obtained. The same building permit, now suddenly required, after we were told it was NOT needed on the 2 previous installations in Rockbridge County, one of which is in the same “Tourism Corridor Overlay” zoning. During those inquiries, no address was ever even requested to check zoning when we were instructed that NO PERMIT WAS REQUIRED, period. The required paperwork to obtain a “certificate of appropriateness” will be filed this week. Once it is issued, we will file for a building permit as requested. If, for some reason, we are denied a “certificate of appropriateness”, by the TCO board, we will be prepared to take legal action. In any case, the flag is not coming down. Despite their claims otherwise, this is ABSOLUTELY about trying to prevent a Confederate flag from flying in the town that is the final resting place of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. It’s about trying to intimidate citizens and bully those of us who dare to speak up and fight back. It’s about attempting to restrict the First Amendment rights of taxpaying citizens. It’s about pandering to the minority, and bowing to the PC false narratives that are being used as an excuse to attempting to erase our history and heritage. CALL TO ACTION:  Please take a moment to contact Sam Crickenberger, Director of Community Development and urge him to put an end to his office’s harassment and ask him to work with us to identify and correct any legitimate violations and help expedite the requested TCO certificate and building permit.  Email:  scrickenberger@rockbridgecountyva.gov Phone:  (540) 464-9662  Mail:  150 South Main Street, Lexington, VA 24450 In the meantime, we are looking at additional sites in the area for new flag projects, as the publicity surrounding this one has led several folks to come forward and offer their land. As is typically the case, our support grows each time there is an attempt to stop us and we would like to thank all of those in Lexington, across the Commonwealth, and beyond who have stepped up to help.

Corey Stewart To Hold "Rally To Preserve Our Heritage" at Charlottesville City Hall

Corey Stewart, Republican candidate for Governor in Virginia, will host a rally TOMORROW night, Tuesday, February 21st at Charlottesville City Hall.  Corey has taken a vocal, high profile stand against the destruction of our history and heritage, and the left, as well as some in the Republican establishment, is attacking him with a vengeance.  We need to show up STRONG tomorrow evening to support him. Email forward below with details:   I recently visited Charlottesville to fight against the removal of the Gen. Robert E. Lee Statue. Make no mistake: The left won't stop at erasing Virginia's history. They won't be satisfied until they put down all dissenting opinion, at all times, in all places. We cannot allow them to erase our heritage. That is why this Tuesday, February 21st, we're returning to Charlottesville, this time to rally at steps of City Hall. Please come and stand with me to protest the removal of General Lee's statue and help us stop this madness in its tracks. The Rally to Preserve our Heritage will begin at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, February 21, The City Council meeting begins at 7:00 PM, where they'll continue their effort to erase the proud record of one of Virginia's greatest heroes. Without a doubt, the liberal agitators will try and shut our rally down. We can't let them silence the voices advocating for Virginia's heritage. General Lee is our heritage. He is our history. Robert E. Lee was a great American and Virginian. After the Civil War, General Lee spent the rest of his life working to reconcile and heal the country. His legacy is antithetical to the radicals who aim to destroy and divide, and it must be protected. Join me and hundreds of other Virginians to protect our heritage in Charlottesville on Tuesday, February 21st at the steps of City Hall Rally to Preserve our Heritage Charlottesville City Hall 605 E. Main St. Charlottesville, VA 22902 5:30 PM RSVP here For Virginia, Corey Stewart

Fight to Save Lee Statue Heats Up On All Fronts - Chaos Erupts as Charlottesville Braces for Costly Lawsuits and Protests

We have received numerous inquiries for updates on the legal proceedings and other plans for Charlottesville after the vote to attempt to remove the RE Lee statue and rename LEE Park.  We have some new information to share with you… From a legal aspect, we promised Charlottesville that there would be a heavy price to pay and we intend to deliver on that promise.  Our friends at “Friends of C’Ville Monuments” have been busy preparing the first lawsuits, and we expect that they will be filed in the next few days.  In the meantime, our attorney sent a letter to the City Attorney and City Council outlining our plans to follow up with more litigation over the next few months, and requesting the City Attorney do his job and stop this nonsense.

On his advice, we will be setting up a separate fund that will be used not only to fund whatever legal action we deem necessary over the next few months, but will be a general fund which can be used to fight any and all future attempts to remove monuments in the Commonwealth…and to erect new ones to add to the landscape. Stay tuned for more information on how you can help. In the meantime, the Governor’s race in Virginia has heated up after the swift and strong reaction by two of the Republican candidates.  As detailed in an earlier email, Corey Stewart and Denver Riggelman make strong statements condemning the vote to remove the monument, and vowed to fight to end the PC whitewashing of our history and heritage.  Meanwhile, Fellow Republican candidate Ed Gillespie, a political strategist whom Stewart derides as “Establishment Ed,” said in a statement that he doesn’t support moving statues but that such decisions are...ready for this... "local issues". Gillespie is leading the Republican field in polling and campaign cash for the June primary. The fourth Republican candidate for governor, State Sen. Frank Wagner (Virginia Beach), says he opposes removing the statue, calling it “political correctness run amok.” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello, who represented Charlottesville in Congress from 2009 to 2011, supports the statue’s removal as part of creating a more inclusive environment. Lt. Gov Ralph Northam, the Democratic front-runner in the gubernatorial contest, has said local communities should make decisions about Confederate symbols, but held up Charlottesville as a model for creating a “welcoming community.” Disappointing, but not surprising that the leading Republican in the race has decided to “play it safe” and side with Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who used the “local issue” excuse to veto legislation that would have closed a possible loophole in our veterans memorial statute.  Corey Stewart not only made a strong statement, he visited the RE Lee statue on Saturday, and was attacked by some of Charlottesville’s local social justice thugs.  Good video here… https://www.facebook.com/pg/CoreyStewartVA/videos/ Corey has also planned a follow up press conference in Charlottesville for NEXT Tuesday, February 21st, at 5:30 pm at Charlottesville City Hall.  We urge EVERYONE to make an effort to attend and support his efforts!  https://www.facebook.com/events/1255311257886567/ Finally, we have been very busy fielding calls, messages, and emails from concerned citizens in and around Charlottesville.  The result is the acquisition of land for THREE new Confederate Battle Flag Memorials to be erected in and around Charlottesville, one of which will be a massive one on Interstate 64.  We are finalizing details, but expect to move quickly to get these up and flying and need your help.  If you would like to help make this happen, please consider a gift to the Va Flaggers Memorial Battle Flag Projects Fund.  Make checks payable to “Va Flaggers” and mail to P.O. Box 547, Sandston, VA 23150, or contribute through PayPal here…   http://www.vaflaggers.com/i95flagdonate.html We truly believe the tide is turning in the Commonwealth.  Efforts to remove the Confederate monument in Alexandria failed after local legislators refused City Council’s request that they petition the legislature for permission to move it.  Mayoral candidates in Richmond and Portsmouth who supported monument removal were defeated or removed from office, and a groundswell of anger against the PC attempt to whitewash our history and heritage is growing.  Even in Charlottesville, the façade is crumbling.  Disgraced Vice-Mayor Wes Bellamy, who was behind the push to remove the monument, faces a recall challenge in court, after volunteers collected enough signatures from registered voters to petition the court.  This after new vile tweets were found and released over the weekend, which use graphic language and slurs against homosexuals. http://www.jasonkessler.net/blog/new-anti-gay-bellamy-tweets-surface His partner in monument destruction, Kristin Szakos, has announced she will not seek re-election, and several pro monument Charlottesville citizens have stepped up to say they will run for office. We are confident that not only will the Lee Monument be saved, but ALL monuments and memorials in Virginia will remain, but we are determined that this is, now more than ever, the time to push forward and not let up, even for a moment. Stay tuned for more information and ways that you can join us!