The Issue of Non Participating States both North and South, failing to participate in an event like the Sesquicentennial is Tragic because of many reasons. The first of which is the yearning and passion of so many descendents to know about their Ancestors: Service, Sacrifice, Heritage, and Unit History.
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There are Tens of Thousands Dedicated Descendents, Students, Reenactors, and Historians who have studied about their Ancestor’s Regiment, the Areas and Battles they Fought In, or the Service they Performed. Your Web Site and The Thousands of Other Sites are Catalysts for Attracting Individuals Interest in Learning More and Knowing More about What Happened, and Who Were Involved in their Ancestors. Just like the Books that you write and the Passion that you share on the Web, there’s a Group of Followers who want to know more and hear more about their Ancestors.
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Seven years ago I founded a Military Web Site for Troops that were stationed at a Military Intelligence site in Darmstadt, Germany. Today, I have over 1,400 members on that site, and the latest “New Members” are the Children of the Troops that were in Germany in the Cold War or right after WWII. On a 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Site, there are more than 70 Descendents, and the Site is Growing. The purpose is to share the History and Heritage of the Regiment and to Tell the Story and Sacrifice of the Troops who served. Many of the Descendents come back again and again and again to view new material, and sometimes share some thoughts or share some material, such as a Photo of their Ancestor or Maybe some Letters.
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My Goal – to have hundreds of descendents participating and constantly uncovering new material that is new and fresh. More Importantly my Goal is to See Every Regiment, North & South, in the Civil War to Begin a Regimental Heritage Site, with Key Moderators Focused to Collobrate as a Team in Recovering Material, Authoring Publications, and Growing the Base of Those Interested in their Ancestry and Heritage.
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The Question That I have is This – “What Would Happen, if There was a Regimental Heritage Site, Where Descendents Could Participate” for Every Regiment – Both North and South?
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Why Is This Important? Key Individuals Pushing a Project Like this Across the Web, Using a Base of Similar Criteria, Can Explode the Numbers Who Will Become Very Fascinated with the Sesquicentennial and their Personal Study of Their Ancestor. The http://www.myfamily.com Family Network Operates Hundreds of Military Websites, and the New Beta Version Operates for only $30 Per Year. Groups such as UDC, SCV, and Others Could Guide their Members to this Project. Ads in Magazines could Funnel Interested Individuals in this Project. And, more importantly – Once Each Regimental Project takes on Shape and Character, It Can Explode with Activity and Members. Enough Seeds for the Project can be Planted Across the Web for a Dedicated Team to Launch Hundreds of Web Sites, All Dedicated to Digging Up Current Information and Arranging it for Sharing on the Web, and More Importantly – Turn up a Treasure Trove of New Content Including Letters, Stories, Newspaper Articles, and Other Valuable Content.
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Perhaps, a Dream that has Passion, is Affordable per Regiment @ $30 per year, can service hundreds or thousands of descendents, and Can Create a Treasure Trove of Information is Worthy of Pursuing. It is my Belief that that the More I can Convince that this Project is Worthy, the More that Descendents, All Over the Country Will Appreciate the Sesquicentennial as Presented by Empowered Individuals on the Web.
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If there is anyone who would like to see my Heritage Project: 3rd North Carolina Cavalry, 41st NCT – Please contact me by e-mail.
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Bobby Edwards
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Bobby Edwards
I recently visitied the battlefield at Chickamauga and took note of the number of Ohio units that fought there. Unfortunately, the current state governments either ignore their history or just do not care. Here in Pittsburgh we are faced with the possible closing of the Fort Pitt Museum and the Bushy Run Battlefield. It is sad that historic attractions/events are the first to suffer.
Scott ]]>
s efforts, “Organizers are hoping to dodge well-laid historical land mines, but it will be difficult to avoid some Civil War basics. While the prominent use of the Confederate flag may upset some, others may be riled by history lessons that call attention to slavery's shameful role in the run-up to the war.†Unfortunately, South Carolinaâ€s sesquicentennial group “has already struggled with finding the right mix of inclusion. After languishing for more than a year before the legislature considered it this spring, the law creating the commission received a few last minute tweaks over concerns about the number of black members.â€
Similar political concerns exist for private funding. According to Rodger Stroup, executive director of the SC Archives and History Center, “Private funding can be tricky given the lingering controversy over how central slavery was to the beginning of the war. People don't want to be seen as promoting one side or the other or one issue or another.â€(quoted in Post & Courier)
Itâ€s simply my opinion, based on what Iâ€ve read in articles such as these over the past year or so that while money may be the main issue, many leaders also consider the idea of commemorating the Civil War a political hot potato, and therefore one that itâ€s simply easier to ignore.]]>While the current fiscal situation is an obvious reality, I do not think that many federal, state, and local politicians have failed to consider racial sensitivities, either. And it’s an aspect to the sesquicentennial that they should consider, for any remembrance must include those groups and topics that were totally ignored in 1961, especially African-Americans and the role of slavery. As a 2007 editorial in Civil War News pointed out, “much of the anger that is blocking meaningful national planning is tied to minorities who believed the Centennial was a pep rally for Southerners in our segregated society. Planning appears to be lacking today because politicians don’t think this is important enough to shake the hornet’s nest.â€
The sesquicentennial must honor all views, including the causes of the war, in an objective manner. As the Charleston City Paper writes (http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:48498) regarding South Carolina’s efforts, “Organizers are hoping to dodge well-laid historical land mines, but it will be difficult to avoid some Civil War basics. While the prominent use of the Confederate flag may upset some, others may be riled by history lessons that call attention to slavery’s shameful role in the run-up to the war.†Unfortunately, South Carolina’s sesquicentennial group “has already struggled with finding the right mix of inclusion. After languishing for more than a year before the legislature considered it this spring, the law creating the commission received a few last minute tweaks over concerns about the number of black members.â€
Similar political concerns exist for private funding. According to Rodger Stroup, executive director of the SC Archives and History Center, “Private funding can be tricky given the lingering controversy over how central slavery was to the beginning of the war. People don’t want to be seen as promoting one side or the other or one issue or another.â€(quoted in Post & Courier)
It’s simply my opinion, based on what I’ve read in articles such as these over the past year or so that while money may be the main issue, many leaders also consider the idea of commemorating the Civil War a political hot potato, and therefore one that it’s simply easier to ignore. ]]>
Paul,
Your statement is entirely out of context and completely bizarre. I challenge you to provide one speck of evidence that supports your contention that the lack of commemoration of the Civil War has anything whatever to do with race. You cannot do it, because this economic-crisis driven matter is not a race matter at all.
Dan ]]>
13 states appear to have some type of commission or legislation in the works (but no website) while a whopping 25 do not appear to have any active sesquicentennial organization, including AL, FL, LA, and Texas.
How sad. Contemporary racial politics have obviously trumped our country’s long-standing tradition of remembering its past.
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