Interesting Observations

The editor of the Charleston (SC) News and Courier in November 1887, himself a Confederate veteran, wrote that the Confederate flag should not be displayed "at what is intended to be a national celebration or a state celebration. . . . Love it as we may, it is out of place save in our memories, in our museums, at our strictly Confederate reunions, and always, in our heart of hearts. No Confederate soldier worthy of this name is likely to dissent from this. The howl will come, if at all, from those who trade upon 'the gray' and they never wore it in battle."

General Robert E. Lee observed, “I think it wiser moreover not to keep open the sores of war, but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavoured to obliterate the marks of civil strife and to commit to oblivion the feelings it engendered,”

He also offered this advice to a Confederate widow expressing animosity toward the northern U.S. after the end of the Civil War, "Madam, don't bring up your sons to detest the United States government. Recollect that we form one country now. Abandon all these local animosities, and make your sons Americans."

New Publication on Cemetery Preservation Available

A new publication is now available that provides immediate advice on why and how to prepare a disaster plan for your cemetery, reviewing some of the more common cemetery problems, including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and vandalism. It provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on recovery techniques, including FEMA funding. While other organizations have provided brief overviews, this booklet provides more detail and serves as a guide to developing a plan for your cemetery. The booklet can be downloaded here. Visit our Cemetery Publications page for additional resources.