... Virginia, where the area is saturated with Civil War buffs and re-enactors, where they periodically dress in shabby homespun garb, go to battle sites and spend the weekend in canvas tents. There are many historical markers, identifying locations where battle lines were drawn, field hospitals were located, skirmishes were fought, generals camped, deceased interred in mass graves . The downtown area was surrounded by fortifications, cannons and hand-dug trenches, areas of encampments when the town became the capitol of the Confederacy. Much of that property is protected, under the care of the National Park Service, guardians of history.
Similar to other southern states, this area was invaded and subdued by the north. Citizenry would spend years under the control of Union officials during the time of reconstruction while recovering from human, physical and financial toll of war. The leaders of the insurrection were elevated to status of hero, even though they returned home as a beaten army. The 'nation' of the Confederate States of America was dissolved.
As a result of so much armed activity in this area, the generals of the Confederacy are memorialized in statues, prominently displayed in traffic circles and public parks through out the city. Those long dead leaders continue to be esteemed, beloved by generations of survivors still devoted to the memory of the vanished nation. The visibly displayed statues are a continual bone of contention, with constant disagreement and dialogue over the placement of the monuments to the deceased leaders. So it's OK to put up a memorial to MLK in every city across the nation, but let us discard any dedicated to the hopes of a lost nation, failure of an army to prevail.
There is also ongoing discussion in reference to schools that bear the names of those same men. Originally so named to honor their service and keep their memory alive. The school superintendent and school board make an effort to placate and please the citizens, but point out the expense of changing a long established name to the population. Reminding them of the urgent needs of maintenance, materials for instruction, improvements essential to education. The head of the board recently made news saying children should not have to enter a building dedicated to the memory of some who would have refused them education. Point well taken. Now let us get on to the education they can receive in that building in need of wiring upgrades, new desks in classrooms and books in the library.
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