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Apple Festival Picture / An Open Letter & Open Report / The Apple Festival
From: “Lavonna Nalley” [lavonna.nalley@hotmail.com]
Date: Sep 1, 2019
Subject: Apple Festival Picture
To: “HK.Edgerton@gmail.com” [HK.Edgerton@gmail.com]
Cc: “Bill.lack@charter.net” [Bill.lack@charter.net]Hello Mr. Edgerton and Mr. Lack,
I have attached the pictures taken at the Apple Festival. It was a pleasure meeting you both and hope y’all have a great weekend.
Lavonna Nalley Whiten
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From: “HK Edgerton” [hk.edgerton@gmail.com]
Date: Sep 2, 2019
Subject: Apple Festival Picture / An Open Letter & Open Report / The Apple Festival
To: “LM S” [Lunelle63@gmail.com]Dear Ms. Lunelle,
For three days beginning Saturday, August 31, to Monday (Labor Day), September 2, 2019, opening day for the annual Historic Apple Festival, one of the crown jewel events held in Western North Carolina, in the City of Hendersonville. I would stroll the streets of the festival with the Southern Cross in hand, interacting with the thousands attending.
On Saturday morning of the festival, I would be joined by Commander Chuck of a Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and I wish I could remember the namesake. Commander Chuck would spend the entire day by my side, most of the time aiding so many with their cell phones or cameras to take a photo with me, or answering questions about the War For Southern Independence.
In all actuality, it was a love fest for the Commander and I. I was so glad he was there with me to witness and share in the love we received from so many.
Sunday morning, September 1, 2019, don in a Dixie Outfitters shirt that bore the likeness of the Honorable General Robert E. Lee, and with the Southern Cross in hand, I would move through the crowds in what seemed like a repeat of the day before. Many, many photos I would take, and many hugs I would return.
The only bump in the road would come when a group of ten Muslims would stop and ask me why a black man would be carrying the Confederate Battle flag, and have on a shirt with a large depiction of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on it? They said that they had been taught that African Americans hated the battle flag, and that the American Civil War was fought to maintain slavery.
As I began to engage them in conversation about this false narrative, a large group of festival goers began to gather around to hear the message I would give to the Muslims as they continued to engage me with questions.
Pardee Hospital, whose tent was behind where I stood, would later call the police and have them ask me to move because too many people were gathering in and around their tent to engage in conversation, and taking pictures with me.
I would comply with the two young, very nice black officers request for me to move about 20 feet to the left of Pardee’s tent, and the love fest continued on for another two hours, and I said good bye to many who lingered on, and headed home. It had been a great day in Dixie.
Monday morning, September 2, 2019 (Labor Day), I would don the uniform of the Southern soldier, and once again with the Southern Cross in hand, make my way through the crowds of festival goers, posing for many photos, accepting many accolades of praise, and hugs, stopping briefly to answer once again why a black man would don the uniform of the Southern soldier with the Confederate Battle flag in hand?
To uplift the spirits of my Southern family would soon become my battle cry, as many continued to ask the question why and were made privy to the showing of love bestowed upon me by so many. May God bless those in charge of the festival who allowed me to make my completely undeterred. And God bless you!
Your brother,
HK
Chairman, Board of Advisors Emeritus, Southern Legal Resource Center
Honorary Life member, Longstreet Zollicoffer Camp #87, Sons Of Confederate Veterans
Recipient, Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, John L. Harris Award
Recipient, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis Medal
Recipient, National Sons of Confederate Veterans, H.L. Hunley Award
Member, Save Southern Heritage Florida
President, Southern Heritage 411
