Honoring Francis Marion Elam This photograph shows the gravestone of Francis Marion Elam, a soldier of the Confederate States Army, decorated with Confederate battle flags and Texas state flags and a fresh bouquet of red roses. It is the kind of scene you can find in cemeteries all across the South, where descendants and heritage
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Flags were a vital part of the Civil War battlefield. They guided soldiers into and through a battle, and identified other groups of men as friend or foe. Commanders used them to help know what was going on in the disorder and chaos of the field. Loss of a flag might mean troop confusion, and
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A Dream of Respect for Southern Heritage This image shows the White House lit up with the colors of the Confederate battle flag above the words “I Have a Dream.” It was shared widely in 2015, shortly after the White House was lit in rainbow colors, and it was meant to make a point about
Preserving Our Heritage Is Not a Crime In recent years, people who honor Southern heritage have often felt like they were being treated as criminals. Flags have been banned, monuments removed and schools, streets and parks renamed. Some people have even lost jobs or been harassed simply for flying a flag on their own property.
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Does the First Amendment Only Apply to the U.S. Flag? This question gets to the heart of a double standard many heritage supporters feel. In 1989, in the case Texas v. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag in protest is protected free speech under the First Amendment. If burning the
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God Bless Dixie “God bless Dixie” is a simple prayer that says a lot about the South. It combines two of the things Southerners care about most: their faith and their homeland. Faith in the Heart of Dixie Religion has always been central to Southern life. Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches dot every county, and
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A Single Bee Is Ignored… The old saying goes that a single bee can be ignored or swatted away, but nobody ignores a whole swarm. The lesson is simple: there is strength in numbers. When people stand together, their voice can no longer be brushed aside. Standing Together for Heritage That lesson has special meaning
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I Stand With My Ancestors “I stand with my ancestors” is a declaration of loyalty to family. For millions of Southerners with Confederate soldiers in their family tree, it means refusing to be ashamed of the men who came before them. Who Were Our Ancestors? Most Confederate soldiers were ordinary men from farms and small
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Southern by God’s Grace “American by birth, Southern by the grace of God” is one of the best-known sayings in the South. It appears on bumper stickers, porch signs, T-shirts and flags, and it captures exactly how many Southerners feel about their home. A Saying With Two Halves The first half, “American by birth,” is
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Sometimes history turns up in the most unexpected places. In 2016, a Confederate naval sword was found among the donations at a Goodwill drop-off site in Franklin County, Virginia. Instead of putting it on a store shelf, Goodwill sent it to auction to raise money for its programs. Bidders competed online, by phone and in
Confederate sword donated to Goodwill sells for $17250 at auction Read More »
