VOLUME 11 NUMBER 3 SUMMER 2006 |
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AT DOINGS OUTSIDE OF THE ARIZONA
DIVISION AND CAMP OFFICERS OF THE ARIZONA DIVISION
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HERITAGE VIOLATION IN PHOENIX: As was detailed in the last issue of this newsletter, it was learned in February 2006 that a Confederate First National Flag, which flew as part of a "Six Flags over Arizona" display in Patriot’s Park in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, has been removed, along with the Castilian, Spanish, and Mexican flags which also formed part of the display. Instead, there are now three U.S. flags and three Arizona flags flying from the six flag poles in the park.
Two inquiries were sent to the City of Phoenix Parks Department, which finally produced a reply from one Sarah Hall, Central City Administrator, Phoenix Department of Parks and Recreation. This reply was interesting in several aspects. First, it was non-responsive to our inquiry, which was WHY the decision to remove the display had been made. Second, it contained inaccurate information, in that it stated that in 1988 the Parks and Recreation Board had voted that the the Historic Flags be on permanent display at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, but in fact the historic flag display at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park was not installed and dedicated until the mid-1990s.
Given the non-responsive nature of the reply which we received, a third inquiry was sent on June 22, 2006, in response to which Ms. Hall suggested a meeting between herself and Commander Perkins to discuss the matter. This meeting was held on June 27. At the meeting, Ms. Hall continued to be evasive as to why the display was removed, but after repeated questioning, finally admitted that an "inquiry" from a member of the public had been received as to why the historical flag display was being flown in the park and who had authorized it, and in response, the Parks and Recreation Board had decided to remove the display. In other words (although Ms. Hall never came out with a full admission of this), someone called and complained about the display, and the City of Phoenix immediately caved in and yanked it down.
Commander Perkins made it very clear that the position of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is that the display should be restored. The end result of the conference was that Ms. Hall offered to get us a spot on the agenda of the next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board, where we can formally request that the display be restored. Once the date and time of said meeting is received, requests for support from other interested organizations (other S.C.V. Camps, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Sons of Union Veterans, the Arizona Civil War Council, and anyone else we can get involved) will be sent out.
GRAVE OF CONFEDERATE VETERAN THREATENED BY DEVELOPMENT: Arizona Division Historian Silas Griffin recently reported that there are new fluorescent pink survey ribbons tied to several 1" PVC pipe stuck in the ground and tied to ocotillos and other plants in a rough East to West line along the hillside just above the John Jovian McClelland gravesite in Cochise County, Arizona. McClelland was from Louisville, KY and served in the Confederate Army, unit unknown. This survey line extends West across the highway just north of the Walnut Gulch Creek bridge so something of notable importance is in process.
Unfortunately, there is no sign at the site indicating what developer is having the site surveyed, so it is any one's conjecture what is really happening. The County Assessor office and recorder state that a Fred Rai or Rei is current owner and taxes are current. So, the land where the grave is located apparently is private land. Historian Griffin can get NO response from this individual or company. Surveying has happened or is under way in the immediate area.
Any of our members passing by the area of the Walnut Gulch Creek/Highway bridge located between Tombstone and St. David, Arizona (just north of the Holiday Inn) are requested to STOP and inquire, if people, equipment, surveyors, etc. are present at the site, and to get a name and phone number, etc. Please forward this information to Historian Griffin at dixieforever@hotmail.com. THEN the proper SCV and County officials can respond appropriately to what could end up being a major heritage violation if nothing is done.
HAVING DESECRATED ANTIETAM, THE KLAN IS PLANNING TO DESECRATE GETTYSBURG NEXT, THEN THE VIRGINIA BATTLEFIELDS: On the heels of it’s rally at the Antietam (Sharpsburg) battlefield, the World Knights of the Ku Klux Klan has obtained a permit to demonstrate on September 2, 2006 at Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. The Klan will demonstrate on the lawn by the Cyclorama Center, protesting the war in Iraq and promoting unity among whites in the North and South, according to Gordon Young, a Klan leader. Young said War between the States battle sites are an appropriate place for the organization to demonstrate, because its members are "ghosts of the Confederacy," and the Klan plans more battlefield protests in Virginia and elsewhere. The linkage being made by the Klan leader between his organization and the Confederacy will certainly not be lost on the national media, and is something that we, as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, cannot let go without response. Further news as to what action the national organization decides to take will be printed in an upcoming issue of this newsletter.
GEORGIA "FLAGGERS" LOSE A CRUCIAL CONTEST: There was an undeclared referendum on the Confederate flag on July 18, 2006. The flag lost. In the Georgia Republican Primary, in which candidates for the office of Governor of Georgia were selected, fans of the 1956 state flag featuring the Confederate Battle Flag got what was probably their only shot at incumbent Governor Sonny Perdue, who went back on his word to give the people a vote on the flag in 2002. But flag-fan candidate Ray McBerry attracted a measly 12 percent against Perdue, who was handily renominated. Since this means the only viable choice, other than Perdue, is a liberal Democrat and avowed opponent of the 1956 Flag, flag supporters can pretty much kiss goodbye any chance that the flag issue will once again be brought before the State Legislature in the foreseeable future.
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Copyright 2006 by the Arizona Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. All rights reserved. Last Updated on August 29, 2006. Questions or comments about this site? Contact the Editor by
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