Southern Heritage Advancement Preservation and Education (S.H.A. P. E.)

Does S.H.A.P.E’s 501(c) seeking status prevent it from petitioning?

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by

gpthelastrebel
in

I’m not sure if this is too overtly political or controversial for an organization like S.H.A.P.E. that aspires to become a non-profit to participate in, I thought I’d submit it for consideration – mostly because I am genuinely curious where most of you folks would stand on this. My impression so far from reading the views from many of the contributing members of this site has led me think that there may possibly be at least one current Civil War controversy on which “Yankee” Patriots and Southern Nationalists might agree and perhaps find some common ground.

Every year since the election of Woodrow Wilson in 1914 until 1990 when George H.W. Bush took office, on Jefferson Davis’s birthday a wreath was offered by the President of the United States on the site reserved inside Arlington National Cemetery for 482 of the Confederacy’s fallen. George Bush Senior changed the tradition in 1990 by offering the annual Confederate memorial wreath on Memorial day — the same day that wreaths are presented for Arlington’s other commemorative monuments like the ‘Tomb for the Unknowns’ that honor the rest of America’s fallen.

Earlier this year, on the week of Memorial Day, a petition was signed by dozens of scholars and University professors urging President Obama to bring an end to the era of wreath laying at the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. Although I personally find the idea of an African-American President laying a wreath at the final resting place of Confederate Soldiers is sort of poignant and moving, I nonetheless share in the sentiment that it is inappropriate for the POTUS to take part in any ceremonial offering or tradition that might legitimize the cause that the Confederacy. In my opinion it should be left to others to honor these fallen and from I’ve read here, I believe it is not unlikely that many of the supporters of the S.H.A.P.E. would likely share this view. If this is indeed the case, then I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor to consider a petition on behalf of the supporters of S.H.A.P.E. as well.

What are your thoughts on this?

Memorial Day

“Memorial Day Order”

General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic Headquarters.

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and com­rades will, in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers sailors and marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hinds slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation’s gratitude—the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander‑in‑Chief to inaugurate this observ­ance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.

By Command of:

John A. Logan
Commander in Chief
May 5, 1868

http://www.cem.va.gov/hist/memdayorder.asp

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=7658404&page=1

 

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One response to “Does S.H.A.P.E’s 501(c) seeking status prevent it from petitioning?”

  1. gpthelastrebel Avatar
    gpthelastrebel

    Does S.H.A.P.E’s 501(c) seeking status prevent it from petitioning?

    Decoration Day or memorial Day is just one more thing the Union stole from the South. Many Southern States claim they were thefirst to have a decoration day, but my reserach shows Mississippi was really the first. Here is the story.

    This is from “A History Of Columbus Mississippi During The 19th Century
    By Dr. W. L. Lipscomb

    FIRST DECORATION DAY.

    When the war closed in 1865 the Confederate States of America died, surrounded by the graves of the brave soldiers who defended her, and took her place among the dead nations of the earth. There was no great national government to take charge of the ashes of her dead, and Mississippi was too poor and broken in spirit to erect memorials to perpetuate their names and commemorate their valor. In this the darkest hour of Confederate history, the Southern women, with a love truer than truth and stronger than death, continued to keep the grass that covered their dead wet with their tears, and strewed with evergreens and flowers the hillocks that marked the remains of the heroes of a loved, lost cause.

    In the spring of 1866 Miss Matt Moreton, Mrs. J. T. Fontaine and Mrs. Green T. Hill—three ladies of Columbus whose names ought to be remembered as long as a Southern heart beats true to gratitude and honor and in loyalty to woman, whose virtues shine amid the tears and whose actions make this world glorious amid the gloom of despair and the ashes of death—were in the habit of visiting Friendship cemetery and cleaning off as best they could the weeds and briers and decorating with flowers the neglected graves of the Confederate dead. This beautiful custom, inaugurated by them, found a hearty response in the breasts of the ladies of Columbus and resulted in a determination to make the decoration of the soldiers’ graves an annual occurrence, and the first celebration to take place was April 25, 1866. An account of that event is herewith copied from the Mississippi Index, April 26, 1866, James A. Stevens, local editor: “The procession of yesterday in honor of the Confederate dead, was large and imposing. First marched in twos, the young ladies and girls, dressed in immaculate white, each bearing her bouquet or chaplet of flowers. Next came tne matrons dressed in mourning; like the others with flowers in their hands—their black dresses typical of the .Southern heart in gloom for its beloved dead—the fair flowers emblematic of woman’s admiration and affection for all that was gallant and chivalrous in patriots. Lastly came the procession of carriages bearing the elderly ladies.

    “Arriving at the cemetery the ladies assembled around the graves of the soldiers in the form of a square; from the center of the ground, an elaborate and eloquent address was delivered by Rev. G. T. Stainback, and following it, a fervent prayer by Rev. A. S. Andrews. The ladies then performed the beautiful and touching duty of decorating the graves with flowers.

    “There were over 1400 graves to be decorated. Through exertions and appeals of the kind ladies superintending the good work, all these graves had been neatly cleaned off; so that after the decoration was completed, “God’s Acre” of heroes looked as if freshly blooming with a thousand flowers —bearing up to Heaven a fragrant and beautiful evidence of woman’s love, tenderness, and appreciation.

    “We were glad to see that no distinction was made between our own dead and about forty Federal soldiers, who slept their last sleep by them. It proved the exalted, unselfish tone of the female character. Confederate and Federal— once enemies, now friends—receiving this tribute of respect.”

    Thus was established a custom which has become national in its adoption—Decoration Day—having its origin with the ladies of Columbus, under the leadership of its prime movers, Miss Matt Moreton, Mrs. J. T. Fontaine, aud Mrs. Green T. Hill. Columbus also claims the distinction of being the first to decorate the graves of both Confederate and Federal soldiers alike. And in this connection we copy the following extract from a Mobile paper: “Some days since we published a letter from “Private”—a well known and high- toned merchant of our city—approving the course of the Mobile Cadets in sending a wreath to the Federal graves on “Decoration Day;” and claiming for the ladies of Columbus the originating of this act of peace to the dead. The Columbus “Index” copies “Private’s” letter and our comments upon it, and thus speaks for itself: ‘This note from “Private” is correct, save that the lady—one of the sweetest women with whom God ever blessed the earth—volunteered, of her own mind, to strew flowers upon the Federal graves. The “Index” in its report at the time, alluded to the magnanimous deed in words of praise, and North and South, this first act of f

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