This is the speech I made before the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Powhatan County, VA. This as a result of one of their members reading my letter in the newspaper and contacting me. The date was May 11, 1997.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I wish to offer my thanks to Bob Wilcox for asking me to speak before you today and to your membership for allowing me the honor of being your guest.

A couple of weeks ago a letter I had written to the Times-Dispatch was printed in their editorial section. I have made copies of the original letter available to you today. Having read the letter my old friend, Bob, called me to express his support for my sentiments and then followed by asking me if I would like to speak to you today regarding my thoughts on this and other matters pertaining to our shared heritage.

While I am flattered that he would make such an offer my first thought was, What can I say to these fellows that they haven’t already heard? I felt that I would be preaching to the choir. Then it occurred to me that there is always the chance that I may be able to put forth some ideas for you to ponder or perhaps even motivate others of you to take action where before you have not! So here I am.

It is worth noting that I am no different than any of you here today. My education is not better, my job is that of a supermarket manager, I have a wife and two kids at home, a mortgage, and many of the other possessions and ideals that make me a regular American.

What I feel allows me to offer some special insight into how we present our heritage is the twenty years I have spent as a historical interpreter portraying soldiers and civilians of both sides of our great conflict. I was a VIP with the NPS. I did programs for schools, museums, colleges, and groups such as the SCV. I took part in movies and documentaries. I did TV, radio, and newspaper interviews. I have also done paid jobs for Living History Associates, many of them at the Museum of the Confederacy.

As a result I have come in contact with many Americans as well as foreign travelers. While my efforts at educating others about the War of Northern Aggression many times proved rewarding, I must tell you that the one thing that struck me time and again was the absolute ignorance of the majority of Americans about their own history. It angered as well as frustrated me! Who do I blame for this? How can these people be so ignorant? And why are so many simply unwilling to believe anything that strays from the politically correct dogma that greets so many of them on TV, in the newspapers, magazines, and especially our schools?

With this in mind is it any wonder kids today and many adults know little or nothing about their own heritage. Another reason many believe and perpetuate the myths, lies, and ignorance about the south and it’s people is the fear of being labeled a racist or some other perjorative.

We who have educated ourselves about our country’s history must stand firm and challenge those who don’t know to seek the truth, if indeed the truth is important to them. Ask them how many southerners owned slaves at the outbreak of the war. Wait for the answer and then point out that U.S. Census records of the time showed that less than 5% of the white population of the south owned slaves. Challenge them to go to the library or the State Archives and simply look it up!

Ask them what they thought the average southern man was fighting for. Ask them what they would be willing to fight and die for. Then point out the truth. - (Go to Gettysburg movie story. Also relate the story of the two soldiers on Culp’s Hill from the Killer Angels).

After using this example I often see the lights coming on over the heads of the people. I often hear, Gosh, I never thought of it that way before. That’s because no one ever dared to present it that way for fear of causing their brains to actually kick in and start working.

If the truth will set you free, then we must fight to free those who are the slaves of ignorance for their sakes as well as ours. How best to do this? As a VIP with the NPS and a historical interpreter I had a venue in which I could challenge the status quo of the general public’s knowledge of our past. I tried to present ideas and facts in such a way as to lead the listener to come to the logical conclusion themselves. This was not always easy, you will always run into those who do not wish to be confused by the facts.

When this happened I simply issued a challenge, go to the archives, or the State library, or any library and look it up. Gather information from many different sources and then reach a conclusion. At least then, while we may still disagree, you have made a decision based on information, not on emotional rhetoric. Ask them to imagine themselves in similar circumstances and ask what they would do. Why would hundreds of thousands of southerners go to war, support the war effort, risk privation and even death for an institution that they had no stake in? An institution that in many instances was detrimental to their livelihoods. We are told every day by many different sources that we should forget our past, change our past, be ashamed of our heritage. We are told that blacks are offended by celebrations and ceremonies that commemorate our southern heritage.

The problem that I have with this is that nobody ever challenges these assertions. I have taken it upon myself to ask of black people that I meet at work or socially exactly what they think about this topic. Just this past Tuesday at work I saw a black woman come into my store and she was wearing a red, white, and blue jacket. On the back of the jacket were the words, Ole Miss. On the front was a picture of a southern plantation owner type (Col. Sanders look-a-like) with Ole Miss Rebels below him. I politely introduced myself to the lady and asked her if she found the image of an old south plantation owner offensive? After all, that picture plus the word REBELS conjured up images of the old slave holding south. Now are you ready for her answer? She said, Well, we’re not living in the old south. I explained to her that we are told by the news and others that she should be offended by this. She further stated that it was our heritage and could not be changed. When I pointed out that many of her peers would disagree with her assessment of the situation she said, Well, they just haven’t grown up enough to be able to deal with it.

(relate other stories about guys wearing articles of clothing with southern emblems on them)

(Lead into the passion for our heritage and the need to educate others. After setting this up relate story of Appomattox Surrender Ceremony in 1984)

(Relate how you have explained the meaning of the Battle Flag to young people)

(Go into how they must become involved and not be bashful about talking about this topic. Be polite, but firm when talking of it to others)

Tell story of Chamberlin’s recounting of the surrender.

Explain that we as white southerners must not tolerate other whites who desecrate the flags and their meanings. For if we do we allow the emblems to be tarnished and must shoulder some of the blame. We live in a country that allows us the right to associate with those we choose, yes even to be racist, but we are being intellectually dishonest with ourselves and others if we do not stand up and point out the facts of our past and how they are subverted today by those with a political agenda that differs from ours. Or by those who are ignorant of their past and perpetuate the lies and myths because they simply don’t know any better.

How we present ourselves is important. I have seen too many people, historical interpreters, NPS employees, Museum staff, etc. who allow their politics to come through when they give a talk or do a program. They confuse fact with fiction to suit their own needs. I and the unit I used to command made a conscious effort to simply explain things from a southern perspective, give people something new to think about, inform them of the status of the average southerner, and then most importantly, challenge them. We would literally say to them, but you don’t have to take my word for it. You can find the same information and more if you are truly interested. Just do as we have done, STUDY!

Look it up at the library. Use many different sources and then reach your own conclusions. Don’t just believe what someone tells you because it is easier that way. (Tell of Gettysburg event where you were leaving the field and the crowd was applauding. You asked if they enjoyed the show and they said yes. You then challenged them, if they were truly interested in history, to read more about their heritage and the history of this great nation)

To end I would simply like to ask each of you to do whatever you can to spread the truth about our history and heritage. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, take advantage of it. Don’t be shy or afraid of what someone might say about you, stand up for what you know to be true and you will be the better for it. Years from now, if, God forbid, our society and it’s knowledge of it’s past and heritage have deteriorated to a state of ignorance that even now seems unlikely, I want to be able to look my children in the eyes and say to them, Your daddy did all he could to try and make things better. Think of the legacy you will leave your children.

I wish to thank you for the distinct honor and privilege of allowing me to speak to you today and trust that I have been able to impart to each of you something that will help your efforts in our common cause.

God bless America and God bless the south.