I realized yesterday that Monday is a holiday here. It's Confederate Memorial Day which the state celebrates. It is a day to honor those who died fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Confederate Memorial Day has been a state holiday in North and South Carolina that falls on May 10th for 140 some years. It coincides with Stonewall Jackson's death and the capture of CSA President Jefferson Davis.
I had ancestors who fought in the "Wawah". My mother was a passionate historian who told me many stories that were passed down to her regarding my great-grandfather who returned intact with his horse, Old Rock, after being in several battles.
I have to confess that I've not celebrated this paid holiday in any meaningful way, largely because I think that this was such a dark time in our country's history. These were horribly bloody times with so many deaths that it is unimaginable. Because I grew up in Virginia around so many battlefields, I also see that for those people serious about their heritage, the holiday should be respected. Maybe this is a time for them to discuss the actual history and share stories that have been passed down. The soldiers who fought weren't evil, they were just soldiers caught up in a cruel war the way soldiers usually are.
Tonight, I'm going out on Compass Rose and will sail to the anchorage and enjoy Saturday there. Then, I'll head back home in time for Mother's Day. My wife's parents are coming over for dinner and I'll go to lunch with the parents of a good friend to celebrate his mother. There's a lot going on this weekend around town. It's supposed to be hot with no rain. So I think that the boat will be a good place to be because of ocean breezes.
I hope that each of you has a good day doing what you enjoy.
enjoy your day off, and thats cool you have so much respect for this holiday
ReplyDeletehope you have a fabulous weekend
Back at'cha...
ReplyDeleteHappy sailing...
i love your knowledge of history. so many people do not keep up with it. my family is thick with stories and history that i can pass on, many of my friends do not even know their own history let alone their own country's history. have a blessed weekend.
ReplyDeleteHave a super fantastic weekend Syd!
ReplyDeleteAnyone who died in war should be honored.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I learned something! Love your spelling of war as I just get intrigued by accents and dialects! KEWL!! Your weekend sounds lovely, especially on the boat! Blessings, Lisa
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lou. And, these were Americans who died in war, Civil or not, they died fighting for their loyalty. I didn't know such a thing was recognized! Interesting. I had a great great granduncle who fought for the north. He was in an Iowas regiment. The soldier's pay helped his family, he lost an arm, it was cauterized in the field by army doctors. When they left Iowa for Nebraska some years later, we have an account of my great great aunt looking back at the farm and seeing her father's war jacket hanging on the fencepost. She wished she'd gone back to get the buttons from it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day! We have Lee-Jackson Day off, but give it up for a different day between Christmas and New Years. I'd rather have the day off at the holidays, instead of a day off in January. Stonewall and Robert E. are probably okay with that too.
ReplyDeleteHave a good long weekend, even if you don't celebrate the "wawah."
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my site on Wednesday when I had questions about the mystery plant in my yard. Today I’ve posted what I believe is the answer with details: http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/05/mystery-solved-its-not-yucky-its-yucca.html
I've mentioned you in the post as well.
By the way, I love the photo of the lighthouse you posted on Wednesday.
Enjoy your weekend dear friend. I agree it should be remembered if only as a bloody time in our history. (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteWe need to always remember everything, the good and the bad. That way, when we repeat it, we can look back and say, "Gee! If only we had seen the signs".
ReplyDeletehow come it's only as we grow older that we find the meaning in things...
ReplyDeletehave a super weekend syd!