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Southern Heritage <br>News and Views: April is Confederate History Month in Dixie

Thursday, March 20, 2008

April is Confederate History Month in Dixie

By Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
cjohnson1861@bellsouth.net

Is American history still taught in our schools?

Do young people know about men like Father Emmeran Bliemel, O.S.B. who was the first American Chaplain to die on the battlefield? Bliemel was killed during the War Between the States Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia on August 31, 1864.

As Chaplain of the 10th Tennessee Regiment, Bliemel courageously and unselfishly ministered to the spiritual needs of his Confederate Comrades, both under fire and behind the lines.

Let me tell you about the "Heroes of the South" who are affectionately remembered during "Confederate History and Heritage Month" in April. Proclamations will be signed by Governor's, Mayor's, and County Commissioners.

Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia has issued a proclamation declaring April 2008 as Confederate History Month. The proclamation specifically recognizes and honors Bill Yopp, a Black Confederate from Laurens County, Georgia. Descendants of Bill Yopp were present at the signing ceremony.

Let us also remember women like Lizzie Rutherford, of Columbus, Georgia, who on a cold day in January worked to clean the graves of Confederate soldiers. She, along with the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, led in efforts to take care of soldiers' graves and get "Confederate Memorial Day" recognized throughout the South.

A monument marks the graves of Jewish Confederate soldiers buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia with these words inscribed: "Shemang Yisroel, Adonoy Elohainoo, Adonoy Achod!" Hear, O Israel in blessed and eternal memory of the South's sons and daughters of
Abraham, upon the battlefields and home fronts in Dixie's Land, They gave all to the cause of the Confederacy.

History is alive at Historic Arlington National Cemetery!!

There are 245,000 Servicemen and Women, including their families, buried at Arlington. Arlington National Cemetery is located in the shadow of the Custis-Lee Mansion "Arlington House" that was home to General Robert E. Lee and his family until the beginning of the War Between the States.

In 1864, Union soldiers were first buried here and by the end of the war in 1865, the number rose to 16,000. The Union burial site at Arlington National Cemetery is located at section 13. Arlington is also the burial site of; President John F. Kennedy, General Jonathan M. Wainwright and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Arlington is also the burial place of men who fought for the Confederacy that is located in section 16.

In 1898, United States President William McKinley, who was a former Union soldier, spoke in Atlanta, Georgia and said, quote "In the spirit of Fraternity it was time for the North to share in the care of graves of former Confederate soldiers." unquote

In Consequence to his speech, by Act of the United States Congress, a portion of Arlington National Cemetery was set aside for the burial of Confederate soldiers. At this time 267 Confederate remains from near Washington, D.C. were removed and re-interred at this new site.

In 1906, the United Daughters of the Confederacy asked permission from William Howard Taft to erect a monument to the South's soldiers. Taft was at the time serving as the United States Secretary of War and was in charge of the National Cemeteries.

With permission the Arlington Confederate Memorial Association was formed and the United Daughters of the Confederacy were given authority to oversee work on the monument.

An agreement and contract was made with Sir Moses Jacob Ezekiel who was a Jewish Confederate Veteran by the record of his service at the Battle of New Market while he was a Cadet at Virginia Military Institute.

On June 4, 1914, the Arlington Monument was unveiled to a crowd of thousands that included both former Confederate and Union soldiers.

This Memorial Event was presided over by President Woodrow Wilson and the people applauded the stirring speeches given by: General Bennett H. Young--Commander In Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, General Washington Gardner--Commander In Chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic and Colonel Robert E. Lee--the grandson of General Robert E. Lee.

The Confederate Monument unveiling was concluded by a 21 gun salute and the Arlington Monument was officially given to the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the UDC gave it back to the United States War Department for keeping and was accepted by President Woodrow Wilson who said: "I am not so happy as PROUD to participate in this capacity on such an occasion, Proud that I represent such a people."

The Sons of Confederate Veterans, www.scv.org, have proudly proclaimed 2008 as the "Year of Davis." Activities commemorating the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis will include the reopening of "Beauvoir" the last home to Davis and family on June 3, 2008.

Go to: www.confederateheritagemonth.com for events and stories about Confederate History Month.

Lest we Forget!!

Calvin E. Johnson, Jr. is Chairman of the Confederate History Month Committee for the Georgia Division Sons of Confederate Veterans and a member of the SCV National Public and Media Relations Committee

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