By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, April 24, 2017, is Confederate Memorial Day. State offices are closed in remembrance of the soldiers and sailors who died defending the Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865.
The President of the Southern Historical Protection Group Mike Williams said in a statement, “Confederate Memorial Day is set aside in Alabama to honor the thousands of men who were called upon by their State to defend the rights held by this State. Governor Lewis E. Parsons made a preliminary estimate of losses. Nearly all the white men served, some 122,000 he said, of whom 35,000 died in the war and another 30,000 were seriously disabled. The next year Governor Robert M. Patton estimated that 20,000 veterans had returned home permanently disabled, and there were 20,000 widows and 60,000 orphans. I am glad Alabama has chosen to continue to honor the sacrifices these brave Alabamians. I hope everyone stops and reflects on the sacrifices made and why we continue to honor them. This is a big part of Alabama History.” Mike Williams is also the past State Adjutant of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The Alabama Division United Daughters of the Confederacy are hosting an event on the Capitol grounds in Montgomery on Monday at 10:00 am.
The event will include cannon firing, a rifle salute, music by Fiddlin’ in the Parlor, keynote speaker Pastor John Weaver, ancestor honor roll call and more. You may announce the name of one Confederate soldier, his company and/or regiment during the roll call/bell ringing. The Daughters of the Confederacy said in a statement, “THANK YOU to the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans for your participation and support. Will your Confederate ancestors be honored at this event by you?”
Confederate heritage groups have asked Governor Kay Ivey (R) to restore the Confederate flags at the Confederate Veterans Monument on the Capitol grounds that were taken down on orders of former Governor Robert Bentley (R). The groups are also hopeful that the Alabama House of Representatives will pass the Memorial Protection Act this week. Senate Bill 60 has already passed the Senate and has received a favorable report from the House State Government Committee.
There will be a living history event for school groups at the State’s Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury on Friday, April 28, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be 13 different stations there where reenactors will attempt to portray different aspects of Confederate Army life. While geared for students, the public is invited to attend.
There will be an abbreviated version of the event at the Park on Saturday, August 29, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Alabama celebrates every April as Confederate History Month.
(Original reporting by the Clanton Advertiser’s Joyanna Love contributed to this report)
