What Goes Around Comes Around

During a recent trip to Mason City, Iowa, my husband and I attended a Civil War encampment and reenactment. While talking to some of the guys who sponsored the event, we discovered that Iowa still has in its possession a Confederate flag from the 17th Mississippi. The flag was captured at Gettysburg.

In 1905, Grover Cleveland signed into law a bill requiring the return of Confederate flags. However, many northern states failed to abide by the law, not just Iowa, whose reason for keeping the flag is because it draws tourists to the state's capital. The flag is in disrepair, and hasn't been on display for quite some time. It will cost approximately $5-10,000 to restore it. Thus, the flag has been stashed away and forgotten until now.

My husband, Dave, is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This came about after I wrote my book, and he became interested in his heritage. Upon further research, he discovered that his great-great grandfather was a Confederate interpreter for the Cherokees under Nathan Bedford Forrest. Dave's commanding officer was so excited about his finding the flag that he had him announce it at their monthly meeting. Now they are in the process of procuring the flag, which holds profound significance for them, as their ancestors fought under that flag. It's funny how all this has come about. I wrote the book = Dave found his ancestor = he joined the SCV and found out about the missing flag = we went to Mason City, Iowa, where my sister lives = we found the missing flag. Strange how one thing leads to another, and it all eventually comes full circle, even though, in this case, it has taken a hundred and forty-six years!

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.

Nathan Bedford Forrest is 188!

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending a ceremony in honor of Nathan Bedford Forrest's 188th birthday anniversary, which was held at Nathan Bedford Forrest Park in Memphis. The park was decked out in flags from each state of the Confederacy. Members of the SCV and UDC were on hand, some dressed in period attire. The crowd was entertained by members of the 52nd Regimental String Band, who played several songs, including "Dixie." Nathan Bedford Forrest's great-great grandson, Kevin Bradley, was present, as was the great-great grandson of Jefferson Davis, Bertram Hayes-Davis.

Mr. Davis spoke about how he has had difficulty bringing recognition to his ancestors' memory. He has approached Congress, the War Department, and several museums, trying to obtain acknowledgment for his great-great grandfather's accomplishments. Most of his efforts took place last year in celebration of Jeff Davis' 200th birthday. It's a shame that racism has tarnished the truth, and that these government institutions fail to honor Jefferson Davis for all that he did for this country.

The ceremony was concluded with a musket salute and benediction, during which time some idiot who was driving by thought it would be funny to scream out an expletive. Lucky for him Tennessee hasn't passed the law allowing firearms to be used in parks! It just goes to show how ignorant some people are to the cause. I'll write more on this subject later, but the gist of it is this: these ceremonies are performed to honor our ancestors, who fought and died for their country, regardless of their beliefs. Regardless of whether we believe in them now. Regardless of what is politically correct. Forgetting that is forgetting important pieces of history, and heaven forbid they should be lost forever.