The month of April of each year is designated as Confederate History and Heritage Month throughout the South and shall be set aside to honor, remember, and revere the history of those who served in in the military forces and all those millions of its citizens of various races and ethnic groups and religions who contributed in sundry and myriad ways to the cause which the Confederate soldier fought for and held so dear.
From its founding on February 4, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, until the Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah sailed into Liverpool Harbor and surrendered to British authorities on November 6, 1865, a four-year struggle was fought to secure the independence of the Confederate States of America.
This April 12, 2021, marks the 160th Anniversary of the War for Southern Independence with the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. As Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I encourage you to observe this noble time in our history, when men and women of the South stood courageously for liberty even in the face of insurmountable odds. Not a Civil War fought to take over the United States as it is called in history books today, this was war in which Southerners fought to defend their homes and families against an aggressive invasion by federal troops.
The South peacefully seceded, just like our founding fathers did in 1776 with England, and all we wanted was to be left alone to govern ourselves. But the North and Abraham Lincoln would not allow the South to peacefully leave because of the taxes and tariffs the South paid. So, the South fought for her liberty, and fought valiantly. It was a war to which we remain connected by the unbreakable bond of our heritage to our Confederate Veteran forefathers, let us never forget them.
Over the next four years, various 160th Anniversary reenactments, memorial services, and a host of living history presentations in schools, parks, and cemeteries will be held all across the Confederation. I also encourage officials and departments of state, county, and municipal governments, boards of education, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, businesses, and all citizens to participate in programs, displays, and activities that commemorate and honor our shared history and cultural inheritance during this time of observance over the next four years.
This is a tremendous opportunity for teachers, students, and families to get out and learn more about our Southern culture and its rich heritage. So much is portrayed by Hollywood and the “Cancel Culture” movement today presenting the South as evil; when, in reality, the South was the most peaceful, rural, and Christian part of America before the war and Reconstruction destroyed the pastoral way of life here. We see various municipalities across the Confederation give in and remove our memorials, change school names, and streets because of “wokeness”. Therefore, I ask every Camp, Brigade, and Division, starting this month of April to take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate the positive things about our Southern heritage and culture, as well as to learn from the political dangers that once led to a deep division in America over the role of the federal government in people’s individual lives.”
Starting at 4:30 AM on April 12, let us remember when General P.G.T. Beauregard was forced to give the order to open fire on Fort Sumter to prevent a “Yankee” invasion after he received a report that the federal garrison would be resupplied and reinforced by orders of Abraham Lincoln on that day, a blatant act of aggression upon the sovereignty of the southern people. Let us remember those actions of the federal government that led to a four-year struggle for the South to defend hearth and home from Northern aggression and the loss of live on both sides that numbered over 750,000 men and how it affected those after that conflict that resonates still today throughout the South.
Therefore, I ask all of our Compatriots, both sons and daughters of the South, to proudly display our flag on April 12th thru the 13th in remembrance of those two days of bombardment at Fort Sumter and the struggle that led our ancestors to fight to preserve their culture and heritage for future generations. I also ask that you participate in observances this month and over the next four years that would remember, respect, and revere the sacrifices as well as educating the general population about the truth that our ancestors fought and died for during those four years of conflict.
Thank you for all you do to perpetuate the memory of our Confederate ancestors and the true cause they fought for during that time.
Deo Vindice,
Larry McCluney, Jr.
Commander-in-Chief
Sons of Confederate Veterans
