Sunday, January 25, 2015

Arkansas Proposes Ending R.E. Lee Birthday

In the Montgomery Advertiser, Thursday, January 22, 2015, I read an article by Norman Merchant of the Associated Press saying that two Arkansas legislators had introduced a bill ending the holiday commemorating the birth of Robert E. Lee.

According to the article, Arkansas has recognized Lee's birthday since the 1940s and State lawmakers voted to recognize Martin Luther King's birthday in 1983. Two years later the State of Arkansas combined the celebration of King and Lee.

Norman Merchant reports that the Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson had not decided whether to support the proposal, as of this past Wednesday

Alabama and Mississippi are the other two states to jointly celebrate King and Lee's birthdays on the third Monday in January. As of now, no bills have been filed in either of these two states to change the holiday.

In Virginia, Robert E. Lee's native State,  there is a separate holiday for Robert E. Lee. The Arkansas legislator does not envision doing that in Arkansas. As my Mother would say, I supposed he proposes to "let the cat die" on that one. Isn't it a shame that "political correctness" has become a phobia.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Robert E. Lee Birthday Party Big Success

Hello readers, I am happy to report that the annual Robert E. Lee birthday celebration at the First White House of the Confederacy, held Monday, January 19, 2015, was a great success! We had a fine crowd, including lots of children, and everyone had a good time.


 The Honorable Mark Anderson, our speaker, made an important talk, emphasizing Lee's  great challenge to his soldiers, with these words: "You cannot barter manhood for peace, nor the right of self-government for life or property...Let us then oppose constancy to adversity, fortitude to suffering, and courage to danger, with the firm assurance that He who gave freedom to our fathers will bless the efforts of their children to preserve it."


 The Judge ended his remarks by saying: "...as we remember and honor Robert E. Lee, the great Virginian, the great Southerner, the great American, the great man, let our response be that of Isaiah (Old Testament prophet) who said 'Here I am. Send me'."

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Celebrating Robert E. Lee's 208th Birthday at Confederate First White House

Robert E. Lee's birthday is commemorated annually at the historic First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery. Monday, January 19 is the date and folks from across the city and environs will gather at 11:00 that morning.




Our speaker will be the Honorable W. Mark Anderson, III., well-known speaker, historian, and friend of the First White House. His remarks are always thoughtful and insightful.


Robert E. Lee served in the U.S. Army for 32 years. When War came he chose to resign his commission and fight on the side of the Confederacy and his beloved State of Virginia.  He became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the War, winning many battles against much larger Union armies.  By 1865, despite inflicting heavy causalities on the North, but unable to turn the tide, Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.


After the war, Lee became President of Washington College, later named Washington and Lee University. He and his wife and all seven children are buried in the crypt of the Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.


It is always an honor and a privilege to remember General Lee as we do each year.