Posted on Jun 25, 2015
Do you know why and how the Confederate battle flag was created 154 years ago?
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The Confederate battle flag, a controversial symbol that was condemned this week by much of the political spectrum, was born a few miles outside Washington during the first major land battle of the Civil War.
A simple roadside marker in Fairfax City describes how “amid the smoke of combat” during the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, Confederate soldiers had trouble distinguishing which troops were carrying the American flag and which were hoisting what was then the flag of the rebellious Southern states.
That’s because the first Confederate flag resembled Betsy Ross’s Colonial-era flag, with red and white stripes aligned next to a ring of white stars on a blue field.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-and-how-the-confederate-battle-flag-was-created-154-years-ago/2015/06/24/aedcf21a-1a98-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html?hpid=z3
A simple roadside marker in Fairfax City describes how “amid the smoke of combat” during the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, Confederate soldiers had trouble distinguishing which troops were carrying the American flag and which were hoisting what was then the flag of the rebellious Southern states.
That’s because the first Confederate flag resembled Betsy Ross’s Colonial-era flag, with red and white stripes aligned next to a ring of white stars on a blue field.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-and-how-the-confederate-battle-flag-was-created-154-years-ago/2015/06/24/aedcf21a-1a98-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html?hpid=z3
Confederate Flag
Civil War
Military History
American History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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Gunny, our actual history no longer matters and things like the confederate flag are persona non grata in our political correct and charged country. We are in the age of symbolism over substance. We do things that make people feel good but do not actually fix anything so we can say we made progress when we really didn't.
The only real good to come of the last couple of weeks is to see how the families of those killed have handled this. There is a lesson to be learned here and an approach that should be embraced. Their grace and forgiveness and rejection of the race baiters has been good to see and hopefully can be emulated by others when a crisis arises.
The only real good to come of the last couple of weeks is to see how the families of those killed have handled this. There is a lesson to be learned here and an approach that should be embraced. Their grace and forgiveness and rejection of the race baiters has been good to see and hopefully can be emulated by others when a crisis arises.
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Thank for posting this discussion GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad.
I was interested to learn I live within 10 miles of the "birthplace" of the flag which has caused such an uproar recently. I was profoundly saddened by the murder of the pastor and parishioners at the historic black church in Charleston, S.C. I expect that each of those martyrs are in the presence of their Lord and Savior.
In a free society conflicts between what something stood for over a century ago and its historical significance can be resolved by discussion and wise legislation.
My primary concern is not what the State and Federal Government decides about how they display the Confederate Battle Flag born in Fairfax City, VA or the others displayed in the picture. I am concerned that the Federal Government and or State/Local governments will begin to declare possession of Confederate memorabilia beginning with the flags and works down to anything associated with weaponry from the Civil War.
One clue will be to see the level of protests which accompany civil war battle reenactments this summer and fall.
I was interested to learn I live within 10 miles of the "birthplace" of the flag which has caused such an uproar recently. I was profoundly saddened by the murder of the pastor and parishioners at the historic black church in Charleston, S.C. I expect that each of those martyrs are in the presence of their Lord and Savior.
In a free society conflicts between what something stood for over a century ago and its historical significance can be resolved by discussion and wise legislation.
My primary concern is not what the State and Federal Government decides about how they display the Confederate Battle Flag born in Fairfax City, VA or the others displayed in the picture. I am concerned that the Federal Government and or State/Local governments will begin to declare possession of Confederate memorabilia beginning with the flags and works down to anything associated with weaponry from the Civil War.
One clue will be to see the level of protests which accompany civil war battle reenactments this summer and fall.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Lots of civil war (and, especially, confederate) history around these parts LTC Stephen F.. I can't help but wonder how much of it is going to get bulldozed ...
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LTC Stephen F.
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad Wayne, I certainly hope that the current federal administration and the current Virginia administration do not have any success in bulldozing history which is what ISIL is doing in Iraq and Syria. I hope and pray that the next Federal and State administrations exercise more wisdom than our current ones. I work at the grassroots level towards those goals.
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Gunny,
No one cares about history anymore. Racial Groups Hijack it and automatically it is a symbol of racism and one of battlefield necessity.
No one cares about history anymore. Racial Groups Hijack it and automatically it is a symbol of racism and one of battlefield necessity.
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SSG Leonard Johnson
How true....sure seems we are repeating history from the early 20's and 30's from Germany.....It's like people now days have blinders on....helped by socialistic teacher unions, commie college boy professors, and spoiled rotten children with blinders on with a me me me I I I attitude.
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