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An Open Report / Where Have You Been?
I began in early March where I would attend the re-scheduled Lee – Jackson Banquet in Kentucky alongside General Lee portrayed by the Honorable David Chaltas, and not to forget Generals Jackson and the Honorable Jeb Stuart who were also in attendance. It is always an honor to speak about the lives of two great men like Jackson and Lee. Yet I am ashamed of the Boy Scout Council of Richmond, Virginia who would remove the name of General Lee from it’s Council. Lee, a man who would give his life for his home state rather than fight against her.
And, I am further ashamed that the City of Charlotte, N.C. with a Yankee Mayor (Cory) would remove the name of Stonewall from one of its streets, and further remove the Christian Cross of St. Andrew from the flag pole over the graves of the Confederate soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery amid the cries of the Black minister and his congregation whose ward the cemetery is located. God bless General Lee who would free his inherited slaves; even though not one would leave his care. God bless General Jackson who along with his wife would take in many slave children into their home and church, teaching them to read and write utilizing the Christian Bible as their teaching aid at a time when it was illegal to teach a slave to read or write.
Or perhaps I should back up a month to February 14, 2010 where the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 794 and Peace Baptist Church in Whiteville, North Carolina would host me to give the keynote speech for so called Black History Month, a month where it appears that only the Sons will recognize the accomplishments of the African people, freed or indentured before, during and after the War Between the States in the service of the Confederate States of America. Just like the Historic March Across Dixie, those who control the media, publishing companies and Hollywood would rather not mention any black men or women who have earned a place of honor and dignity under our Christian banner. I would also give the keynote speech for Confederate Memorial Day in Whitesville on behalf of Camp 794. And certainly, God bless Joe Sparcino of the Dixie Defenders Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Ms. Carter of the Martin Luther King Peace March Committee for inviting the Sons to march in the MLK Peace March in Cross City, Florida while the rest of the nation was kept in darkness of this truly remarkable accomplishment; King’s dream would come alive on this day.
God bless those schools of Tennessee who invited me in to speak to their student bodies about the place of honor and dignity earned by not only the Black Confederate soldier, but also those trained cadre of black folks on plantations all across the southland who made the implements of war and provided the food stuffs for General Lee’s army. However, I am ashamed of Davey Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Maryville High School, Knoxville High School, and Blount County High Schools of Tennessee who chose the low road and entered the realm of political correctness of the poverty pimps and federal school system by banning the Southern Cross while using black students and their communities as their weapon of choice to accomplish their unholy mission, further stripping them of all historical honors gained.
Note worthy to mention would be my attendance at the Historical re-enactment of the Battle of Warm Spings in Hot Springs, North Carolina. Prior to the battle, the entire Brigade would encircle me as I recited Dr. Michael Bradley’s (past Commander of the Tennessee Division of the Sons) poem; “I Am Their Flag”. When I finished, every soldier would stand in a line in front of me giving me a hand salute and hug. I was brought to tears at this show of affection and love.
On I would travel to the 1st Annual Confederate Jam held in Morristown, Tennessee, a family centered event that was over the top in entertainment and historical presentation. I hope that I am asked to attend next year.
Much like the Confederate Jam, I would find myself in Pigeon Forge at the 1st annual Confederate Relic Show, that was way over the top in it’s presentation of historical paraphanalia by those vendors present. My only wish was that I could have had a million dollars to buy all that I saw and wanted. And those young ladies that put on the Confederate fashion show are to be commended, as well as the Honorable Generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, Wade Hampton and even if I have to say so, Union General Ulysese S. Grant’ speech of reconciliation and support was heartwarming. And I want to thank the staff of the Ramada Inn who invited me in to their office out of the sun for food and drink at their expense as I stood on the corner of Parkway with my flag directing folks into the Convention Center, posing for many pictures, conducting interviews, and confabulating with the many folks who stopped, to include a very interesting middle age Black man who asked me some very pointed questions about the similarity of the Tea parties concerns about the role of the government and the very same concerns expressed by those leaders of the Confederacy and it’s citizens.
I have spent many days in the streets lecturing and being lectured to from the Asheville-Buncombe Memorial Day Ceremony held May 31, 2010 where I would post the Southern Cross, on to the Bridge over Interstate 40 in Asheville, N.C., Main Street in Black Mountain, N.C., at my favorite restaurant, “Dixie Barbecue”, on North Roan Street in Johnson City, Tennessee, and not to forget participating in the Historical re-enactment of the assassination of the Honorable General John Hunt Morgan in Greenville, Tennessee. I would also give the keynote speech at Sycamore Shoals in Tennessee.
And lastly, on September 25, 2010, I would lecture alongside members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans at the 6th Annual York Confederate Heritage Youth Day, another event like the Sons National Youth Camps that should be imitated all over the country.
