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Monument to Delaware Confederates Unveiled Successfully May 12th


Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Nearly 300 members of the general public and invited guests attended
a Delaware Confederate soldiers monument unveiling ceremony sponsored
by the “Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 2068” on May
12th at the Nutter B. Marvel Museum in Georgetown, Delaware. The
monument honors the state’s citizens and soldiers who supported
or enlisted in Southern armies during the “War Between the
States” 1861-1865.

The day’s highlights included proclamations by Georgetown,
Delaware Mayor Mike Wyatt and Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner
declaring that May 12-18 is “Confederate History Week”
in the town and throughout the state of Delaware. There were musket
volleys, cannon salutes, a wreath laying ceremony, and descendants
of several of the soldiers on hand to witness the event. Dirt
from each of the Confederate states was spread at the base of
the monument to give it a firm foundation in Southern soil. The
band “Breaking Nu Ground” performed afterwards to
entertain the crowd.

Noted Southern Patriot H.K. Edgerton led the crowd in singing
“Dixie” and performed his rendition of “I am
their Flag”. He spoke passionately about the need to preserve
Southern History.

The monument features the names of over 70 Delawareans who fought
in Southern Armies or supported the Confederate war effort including
Lt. General Leonidas Polk and Delaware Governor William Henry
Harrison Ross. There is a 9 foot obelisk and it is flanked by
25 foot flag poles on each side, one featuring the Delaware flag
and the other featuring the Confederate battle flag. A Confederate
battle flag is inscribed upon the obelisk and features a 14th
star – for Delaware.

Delaware, a border state during the war, never left the Union,
but it is estimated up to as many as 2,000 of her native sons
joined Southern armies. There are monuments honoring those who
joined the Federal armies, at Gettysburg and Sharpsburg Battlefields
as well as other places, but none – until now – recognizing
the sacrifices of Delawareans who supported the Cause of independence
and efforts of the Confederate States between 1861-1865.

More names of many Delaware’s Confederate soldiers will
be added to the monument as research reveals their identities.
Anyone with names of possible Delaware Confederate soldiers is
asked to contact the Monument Committee through the “Delaware
Grays” website at www.DESCV.org.

The monument is located at the non-profit Nutter B. Marvel Museum,
510 South Bedford Street, Georgetown. The museum includes a collection
of historic buildings and horse drawn carriages as well as thousands
of historical photographs, newspaper clippings, books and other
memorabilia about Georgetown, Sussex County, and Delaware.