Flags Long Ago Unfurled

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to a gentleman by the name of Larry Hawkins give a discussion about battle flags used by soldiers during the Civil War. His main concentration was flags from Mississippi, and his deep concern was that these relics would be lost forever. That is why he is compiling a book about the flags, with pictures included.

He expressed the fact that many flags have vanished and are irreplaceable. His fear was that these flags would not withstand the test of time, in that political views have changed since the mid 1800's, and people would no longer wish to keep them as a reminder of the Confederate cause.

I truly hope this never happens. There is already too much negative association tied to the Confederacy, because ignorant people automatically link it with the Ku Klux Klan. This isn't the case, however, as they are two separate entities entirely. The Sons of Confederate Veterans only wish to preserve their ancestors' legacy, and slavery isn't even an issue, just as it wasn't an issue for Southern soldiers. They didn't give up their lives for abolition, but for self-preservation. They fought to defend their homeland, just as their ancestors had during the American Revolution. Preserving the past is our responsibility, and our duty to our ancestors. Whether we hold their same beliefs or not is irrelevant. They sacrificed their lives for a cause they believed in, and we should honor them for that above all else.