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Breaking News!! SB 401 PASSED the House of Delegates on Monday, March 6 by a vote of 94 - 2!!! This Bill replaces the Oakwood Cemetery Trust, Inc. with the Sons of Confederate Veterans - Virginia Division, as the organization to receive funds from the Department of Historic Resources for the care of Confederate graves in Oakwood Cemetery located in Richmond, Virginia!! Now, on to the Governor for his signature! NAYS--Ebbin, Griffith--2. NOT VOTING--Hargrove, Jones, D.C., Parrish, Plum--4. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE - Monday, March 27, 2006
Press Statement of the Tom Smith
Camp #1702
This decision was made with much regret, and was not made lightly. For the past eleven years, since its inception, the Tom Smith Camp has, through its community efforts, attempted to cultivate a bond with the City of Suffolk, worthy of the heritage of those valiant soldiers who defended Nansemond County and Suffolk, and who also rebuilt this city after its destructive occupation during the War Between the States. In so doing, the Tom Smith Camp has not only participated in, but also provided direct assistance to the benefit of the City of Suffolk and its citizens in various efforts to preserve and develop the rich historical resources of this community. Specifically, for the last three years, the Tom Smith Camp has faithfully supported the Civil War Weekend as a way to give back to the local community by promoting historical education, as well as to support the valuable work of the City of Suffolk's Department of Tourism. While the efforts of the Tom Smith Camp were initially received with some skepticism from those not familiar with our organization, there has been overwhelming support since that time from the local citizenry, including educators and prominent civic and political leaders. In more recent years, this has been substantiated by the Mayoral proclamations honoring April as Confederate History Month in Suffolk, which included the support of the courageous and far-sighted past-Mayor, Curtis R. Milteer, who encouraged our community to work together and learn from each other's history and heritage. Unfortunately, the warm relationship that had developed between the Tom Smith Camp and the City of Suffolk was unfairly severed by the actions of Mayor Bobby Ralph. Ralph, who had until recently assured the Tom Smith Camp of his support of April as Confederate History and Heritage Month, went back on his word, finding the issue too "divisive." The Mayor's decision also came on the heels of another volley delivered by the City, which prohibited the Tom Smith Camp from using the flag pole located behind the Hilton Garden-Inn at Constant's Wharf, when the Camp welcomes the Virginia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, state convention in late April. To the membership of the Tom Smith Camp, the treatment it has received most recently from the City of Suffolk and Mayor Bobby Ralph has been hurtful and insulting. Though the Camp has attempted over the years to rise above such conduct by the City, the latest abuse has shown an insincerity and disrespect that has never before existed, and has become a sign of the City's blatant attitude toward those citizens whose only fault is respect for their heritage. At this point, it is clear that the Mayor believes that either we are not worthy of the respect offered to other civic organizations and citizens, or that the Tom Smith Camp and our purpose are a politically-disadvantageous impediment to his re-election. Given the current atmosphere, the officers and membership of the Tom Smith Camp believe that the time has come that we not further embarrass the City of Suffolk or Mayor Ralph with our involvement or support. Sadly, this has placed the Tom Smith Camp in such a precarious position that the membership no longer feels welcome or comfortable taking part in a community event like this year's Suffolk Civil War Weekend. The recent actions of the Mayor make it apparent that while the City wishes to attract tourism into the local area, it is only for the purpose of filling its own coffers, and not out of a genuine respect for Suffolk's history. Mayor Ralph stated last year that it would be "inconsistent" to support Civil War Weekend and not support April Confederate History and Heritage Month. We agree! While the Tom Smith Camp will work as hard as ever to preserve and protect Suffolk's rich Confederate history, and see to it that such a proud heritage is passed on to future generations, we can not continue to support the City of Suffolk while it reaches out with one hand of friendship, only to stab us in the back with the other. The Sons of Confederate Veterans
is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest
hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate soldiers
without regard to race or religion. Organized at Richmond, Virginia,
in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and
non-political organization dedicated to insuring that a true history
of the 1861-1865 period is preserved. The Tom Smith Camp, SCV, is the
heir of the Tom Smith Camp (United Confederate Veterans) which existed
in this area from 1895 until the death of the last surviving Confederate
veteran in 1933. Locally, the Tom Smith Camp of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans has been an active part of the Suffolk community in seeing
that the honor and legacy of those men who served Suffolk and the Southland
are remembered. |
The Virginian-Pilot, Dec. 1, 2004:
| Former
Suffolk Mayor Dana Dickens is Runner-Up for Scalawag Award! This article is reproduced with written permission from Southern Partisan Magazine: 1-800-264-2559 & SouthernPartisan@rqasc.com |
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See Also: http://www.tomsmithcamp.com/dickens/ |
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By Allison T. Williams Suffolk News-Herald Mayor E. Dana Dickens III
may have refused to declare April Confederate History and Heritage Month in Suffolk. Fred Taylor, commander of the Tom Smith Camp, presented Dickens with photographs and a Confederate flag from Memorial Day 2003 ceremony at the Elmira, N.Y., cemetery where his relative is buried. Last May, after reading of Dicken's refusal to sign the proclamation, a member of the Buffalo, N.Y., SCV chapter contacted with Taylor. Taylor told his comrade up north that one of Dicken's relatives had died in a Confederate Prisoner of War Camp in Elmira. The private is one of 12,000 Confederate soldiers buried in Woodlawn National Cemetery.
Although he has had the photograph and flag for several months, Taylor said he deliberately waited until this month to share them with Dickens. "It is Confederate
History and Heritage Month," said Taylor. "This is a time we celebrate
our Confederate history and we thought this would be a special time to present
them to Mayor Dickens." |
| The
current Mayor of Suffolk, VA (Dana Dickens) apparently has many Confederate soldiers
in his family tree. William B. Dickens died at Elmira, NY federal prison in March
1865 from chronic diarrhea, and left a wife and three children. In spite of this,
the Mayor has twice refused to sign a Proclamation saying that April is Confederate
History and Heritage Month in Suffolk. Photos are courtesy of Jackie Dolby of Churchville, NY. The gentleman placing the dirt (from Halifax County, NC) and flag is Mark Dolby, Past Chaplain of the Buffalo Rangers Camp, SCV, Buffalo, NY. | |
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Let's not forget that Mr. Dana Dickens has many Confederate ancestors who served proudly! (Note: As of July 1, 2004, Mr. Dickens is still a member of the Suffolk City Council, but he is no longer the Mayor!!) |
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Suffolk
Mayor E. Dana Dickens III has again refused to sign a proclamation designating
April as Confederate History and Heritage Month in Suffolk. Results of the poll were published on April 23, 2004: No: 66.1% Yes: 31.1% 425 votes cast |
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| http://www.vancnews.com/articles/2004/05/19/warrenton/news/news02.txt BATTLE FLAG WAVES TO RESTORE PRIDE IN SOUTHERN HERITAGE By Luci Weldon, The Warren Record If you were driving down the road and saw a black man carrying
a Many of us would have
to admit that we would be surprised to say the At times,
these opposing viewpoints reach the forefront of discussion Asheville resident H.K. Edgerton, a black man, has
proudly carried On Monday, that mission brought
him to Littleton and the start of a "In Richmond, Virginia, the DuPont Company has banned
Confederate Edgerton serves
as chairman of the board of advisors of Southern A retired engineer, Edgerton
and his brother later owned and operated Edgerton chose to begin his march at a monument located at Mosby
"I
am very proud to call myself a Confederate American," he said. "I He added that others are "trying to
divide black people and white "We are a family in
the Southland of America," Edgerton said. "I As
he began his march on Monday morning, he wore a Dixie Outfitters "What they want to do is tell the truth about
southern heritage," he Perhaps most of
all, Edgerton hopes that young people of all races in "Our babies
now don't know history," he said. "Southern people have The
journey which began Monday is not Edgerton's first march. In "When
I walked to Texas, the deeper I traveled in the south, more He
noted that the heritage of southerners includes helping one "The
people of the south have always been a family together, then He went on to praise the "Christian white folks of the south." "Blacks
and whites are a family in the south," he said. "Whites have Edgerton, describing the Confederate flag as
the Christian cross of "History
has been twisted around," he said. "It is time for all to |
| Suffolk mayor won't designate Confederate
history month By LINDA MCNATT AND JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, The Virginian-Pilot © March 24, 2004 SUFFOLK — For the second consecutive year, Mayor E. Dana Dickens III has rejected a local group’s request to designate April as Confederate History and Heritage Month. “My job is, as mayor, to unify,” Dickens said in an interview Tuesday. “This generally does not further that goal.” He added that the group “has a tendency to offend some folks.” In a letter to a local affiliate of the Sons of Confederate Veterans last week, Dickens, who is white, held fast to a position he took in 2003. His
decision comes as the city prepares a “Civil War Weekend” downtown, which Dickens
described as a general-interest family event different from backing a Confederate
history month. In an address before the Tom Smith Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans late Monday, Milteer – locked in Suffolk’s only contested City Council race this spring – said he would do it all over again. “Heritage is a memory that each of us decides we want to celebrate,” Milteer said Monday , according to a tape the group made to provide meeting minutes. “It doesn’t matter whether you wore a gray uniform or a blue uniform, you were all Americans. ... “When I made the decision I made two years ago as mayor to celebrate History and Heritage Month, I had people all over the country – both black and white – who pressed me,” added Milteer , who stood at a podium with a Confederate battle flag on it. “The decision I made I would not have changed if I was mayor today.” Those in attendance cheered Milteer. In an interview Tuesday, Milteer briefly addressed his reasoning for backing a proclamation. “It’s history,” Milteer said, before declining to comment further. There has been statewide debate about such proclamations. In his first year of office, Gov. Mark R. Warner , a Democrat, called a requested proclamation “needlessly divisive” and said he would not address the matter each year. Milteer has acknowledged that racial representation on the City Council is an issue this election – and his 2002 decision brought heavy criticism from other black leaders here. Three of the city’s seven council members are black. Milteer, who was the city’s second black mayor, faces a challenge in the Whaleyville Borough from Roger A. Leonard , a businessman, and the Rev. Isaac J. Baker Jr., vice chairman of the Suffolk Industrial Development Authority. Leonard , who is white, could not say whether he would back or oppose a proclamation. “I assume his comments are heartfelt,” Leonard said. “I believe he’s entitled to these beliefs. ... I’m not sure where I’m at right now. It is a very difficult question. I don’t think there’s any one answer.” Baker , who is black, could not be reached for comment. Dickens would not comment on Milteer ’s decision to speak in front of the Sons of Confederate Veterans this week. “Mr. Milteer’s his own man,” Dickens said. Fred D. Taylor , commander of the Tom Smith Camp , requested the proclamation from Dickens on March 1. In an interview, Taylor said Dickens’ opposition to a proclamation last year helped the group grow in membership by 65 percent to 145 people. “We are a part of this community, and they can’t keep shutting the door,” he said. “There’s no need to turn this into a negative thing,” he added. “April is going to be History and Heritage Month in Suffolk, no matter what.” Reach
Linda McNatt at 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com;
reach John Doucette at 222-5555 or john.doucette@pilotonline.com
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| (March 31, 2004) Mayor again refuses to sign proclamation By Allison T. Williams Suffolk News-Herald Although the city is sponsoring this weekend's Civil War celebration,
Mayor E. Dana Dickens III has refused a local organization's request to designate
April as Confederate History and Heritage Month. "The difference is that Civil War Weekend is a very broad, all-encompassing type of event that a lot of different people are participating in" said Dickens. "That is very different that the SCV request for a proclamation." A Confederate History proclamation could be divisive to the city, he said. In 2002, Councilman Curtis Milteer - who was the city's mayor at the time - approved the SCV's proclamation request, putting the city in the national limelight in the process.
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| The
Tom Smith Camp has been very active recently in trying to honor our ancestors
by participating in the Civil War Weekend (April 3-4) and then making a presentation
to the Mayor on April 7. It would appear that Mr. Robert Pocklington of the Suffolk
News-Herald is very much opposed to our stated goals. What follows are his Commentaries
(he is a regular columnist), and responses by Keith Morris and Tom Cohoon. It
is up to the reader to separate the truth from nonsense! | |||||||
| Suffolk News-Herald Seems like someone is jamming a stick in the eye of the Mayor who was disinclined to make April a whole month honoring the Civil War. They went to a great deal of trouble to remind Mr. Dickens he was well connected to those long ago happenings. But I agree with the mayor that we don't need a month of anything, not even Christmas. That celebratory weekend was quite enough, thank you. The "warriors" had to go back to the real world. Two days were sufficient reminder that a lot of good men and boys died for a cause. But even distant future historians will debate the necessity of it and what it accomplished for the nation. Thank God the soldiers were limited to muskets and bayonets. Perhaps it's time we switched to World War II for the re-enactments. Then some of old duffers could take part, we fall down rather easily. There were once 16 million of us, now reduced to 3 million, and between us we could tell you how things actually were back then. We are holding on till June so we can make the trip to Washington and see our war memorial; we have waited half a century. After that we can get in line for a final trip to new Veterans Cemetery on Milner's. I already have my Pre-application for Internment but no longer have a copy of my army discharge. It faded and finally fell apart, like I'm doing. All I have left is the memory and my dog tag number. Will they let me in? Robert Pocklington is a resident and a regular News-Herald columnist. He can be contacted via e-mail: robert.pocklington@suffolknewsherald.com
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| [April 3, 2004] 'It was Personal' History buff wants to educate public on heritage Staff photo/By Harvey White
As a kid, Fred Taylor was always building foxholes and playing soldier in his backyard. Now 20, Taylor still plays soldier - but his playground extends far beyond the folk's property line. Today, Taylor - Commander of the Tom Smith Camp #1702, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Suffolk - frequently spends weekends bringing his Civil War roots to life as a Confederate re-enactor. "I'm a lowly private," said Taylor, a member of Company G, 9th Virginia Infantry for the past four years. Fighting battles like ones where thousands died standing up for the Confederacy can evoke awesome emotions, Taylor said. "There are moments where it sent chills up your neck, especially when you are in the heat of battle," Taylor said. "I don't want to take away from the men who served this country then or now. "But the sound of gunfire, the smoke and the constant movement of leading to charge or retreat takes you to a different world," he said. "It sometimes gets to a point in battle that you lose track of the fact that you are acting. It becomes real." Always a history buff, Taylor got hooked on learning more about his family's role in the Civil War when his fourth-grade teacher assigned a genealogy project. "That's when the bug bit me," he said. "Until then, history had always seemed rather abstract to me...because it was about some unknown person many years earlier." "That's when I realized that what I thought was abstract wasn't ...because it was about my family. It was personal." This weekend, Taylor and his Tom Smith comrades are participating in the city's Civil War Heritage Weekend in downtown Suffolk. "I'm just looking forward to everything," said Taylor. "This is a great opportunity for the city to tie all its historic sites together...and other cities have proven that it (the Civil War) is a great economic asset to tourism." Taylor said he was disappointed - but not really surprised - by Mayor E. Dana Dickens III's recent refusal to sign a proclamation declaring April Confederate History Month in Suffolk. Just requesting the proclamation gave the SCV an opportunity and avenue to educate the public on the area's Civil War heritage, he said. "I don't think our request was in vain," Taylor said. "I will ask for the same thing next year, no matter who the mayor is." "I think it is something we can use to getting our foot in the door to schools." Name? Fred D. Taylor. Age? 20. Hometown? Suffolk. Family? Parents - Wayne & Nita Taylor of Suffolk; one brother - David Taylor, and his wife, Valerie, of Smithfield; my girlfriend, Adrienne Warren of Chesapeake; and last, but certainly not least, my Labrador retriever, Willis Taylor. Education? I graduated from Nansemond River High School in 2001 and will graduate from Old Dominion University with a history degree in December. Then, it's on to law school. Career/occupation? Full-time student, political activist, history buff, and future lawyer. Volunteer activities? Commander of the Tom Smith Camp #1702, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Suffolk; Confederate re-enactor with Company G, 9th Virginia Infantry; member of the Theta Xi chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society at ODU; and volunteer legal assistant at the Southern Legal Resource Center, a non-profit legal foundation that specializes in Southern civil rights issues. Favorite thing about Suffolk? As one of my favorite songs goes, "There are few things pure in this world, and home is one of the few." ("O.A.R. - I Feel Home.") Describe your vision of downtown Suffolk five years from now? With the recent development of Suffolk's rich history and heritage, coupled with progressive moves such as the new conference center, Suffolk is getting put back on the map. Our city has all to gain from its downtown revitalization, and will attract visitors and businessmen alike in the coming years. In end, jobs will be created, the local economy will boom, and Suffolk can and will be proud of what is has created. Why did you pursue your chosen career? I have always been interested in our government and law in general, especially when it comes to constitutional issues. As a lawyer, I hope to make a difference with the cases I encounter and the people that I meet. Everyone thinks that "lawyer" is a dirty word these days - I would like to change that. Our country, our Republic, is the greatest ever created - the people who defend it, lawyers, should be regarded as highly. Favorite thing about your job? School is my job these days, but overall, the best thing about it is the challenge surrounding it. I am always pushed to my fullest, and encouraged to seek the answers to my problems or questions - not by them simply telling me, but by me researching and working out the answer on my own. Least favorite thing about your job? Research papers, which all seem to be due the same week! What accomplishments are you proudest of? I am proudest of my role as director of the Sam Davis Youth Camp, a program created by the Sons of Confederates Veterans for youths interested in Southern history. It is through these youths that pride, respect, and honor for our history will continue, and I am humbled to be a part of it. "As the noted philosopher and historian George Santayana once wrote, "Those who do not know their history will be destined to repeat it." From our efforts, I am certain that will not be the case. Who or what motivates and inspires you? My family, my friends, and God are my strength. Life is filled with many ups and downs, but I am blessed to be surrounded by those who support and uplift me. Because of that, I have a duty to them to be my best. Favorite way to spend free time? Free time? What is that? I am a college student! What words of wisdom would you like to share with others? General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson said it best, "You may be whatever you resolve to be." What ingredients are in the recipe for a good life? Good music, great food and beautiful women - all of which are in abundance in the South. We all have our 15 minutes of fame in this life. How would you spend your time in the spotlight? Probably answering my cell phone from those calling me to tell me they saw me in the newspaper - or at least that's what my girlfriend says! |
Very interesting article
about Suffolk's Mayor Curtis Milteer and officers of the Tom Smith Camp
last
year with then-Commander William Richardson:
http://www.prospect.org/print-friendly/print/V13/11/just-r.html
| Man searches for Confederate links By LINDA MCNATT, The Virginian-Pilot © December 29, 2003 SUFFOLK — Late at night, M. Keith Morris Jr. weaves his way through the past. He wanders until the sun cracks the morning sky. From a small town in Virginia to a county in a nearby state, from the 1860s, when the Civil War raged, to 1910, when the U.S. census asked: Did the head of the household serve in the Union or Confederate Army? Searching for Confederate connections, sometimes he finds an answer. Sometimes not. That’s when Morris trudges on, following Internet links, screen after screen. “I follow the trail, wherever it leads,” he said. “I assume nothing.” Morris, who calls himself a “Tidewater” native – his father retired from the U.S. Navy – took over as adjutant in Suffolk’s Tom Smith Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans just more than a year ago. Since then, the SCV camp has grown from 62 members to 112, at last count. It has ballooned from one of the smallest of the 75 SCV camps in Virginia to one of the largest, said state SCV Commander Bragdon Bowling, of Richmond.
That license plate, issued only to SCV members, features the controversial, bright red Confederate battle flag. It was approved by Virginia legislators only after months of debate and a lengthy legal battle. Bowling said, for some, there’s a romanticism about the Civil War that lives on. “It was David versus Goliath,” Bowling said. But the controversy over why the war was fought and the symbolism of the flag – as offensive to some as it is precious to others – roars on. Morris, who lives in a neighborhood near Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, said he doesn’t hear all of that. He says he shies away from politics and religion. But he is tenacious about helping others connect with their past. He doesn’t charge for his services. If he does the research, he expects to see a membership application follow. He looks for new members as taken with the lure of the South as he is. In his quest for ancestors, the 56-year-old retired math teacher applies the principles he’s familiar with. “It has helped me look at genealogy research analytically,” he said. “Like in geometry. You make a statement, and then you must make a statement of proof. I used to ask my students, 'How do you know it’s so?’” He asks the question time after time. “If I can’t answer, I keep digging.” Adventures in genealogy started with his own family, when Morris was a college student at Old Dominion. He was talking on the phone to his mother, he said, when she mentioned the names of family members he’d never met. From Texas, she sent him a family tree, hand-written on the back of two file folders. “I still keep it on top of everything,” he said, pulling the folder from a drawer. Morris discovered family roots in the Revolutionary War and joined a heritage organization. At one meeting, he heard a speaker talking about the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It piqued his curiosity, he said. When he went searching again, he found Capt. J.L. Greer, of the 4th Georgia Infantry. Greer was born in Alabama in 1836and educated in Georgia. When the Civil War broke out, Greer was a teacher. He enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private and rose through the ranks. He saw the battle of the Merrimac and Monitor, as it happened. He was wounded in May 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania. He fought with the army of Northern Virginia. By late summer 1864, he was in prison at Pt. Lookout, Maryland. At the end of the war, Morris learned, Greer moved to Texas, where he helped to start a small town, was mayor and served on the school board. Morris’ great-great-grandfather died in 1922. Membership in the SCV requires verification of a Confederate ancestor either directly, as in Morris’ case, or collaterally – descended from the same ancestors, but in a different line – an uncle, for example. Documentation is required. That’s where Morris comes in. “I take my job very seriously,” he said. “I look for facts, dates, relationships and pictures. It is my nature to stick with it until I’m done, or until I pass out at 5 a.m.” Some potential members provide adequate information, Morris said. The names of a father, grandfather, great grandfather, makes the hunting easy. Some hunts are more challenging, like the ancestral quest of Phil Carr, 38, of Windsor. Carr had the connections, John and Thomas Carr, with the 16th Virginia Infantry, but Morris, in his research, found three sets of brothers with those same names. Morris called his cousin in Kansas, a professional genealogist. “I’ve got the name; I’ve got the unit,” he told her, when he called at 9 p.m. “I’ve got duplicate names and duplicate units.” Morris had to have the perfect connection. “She was on her computer, and I was on mine. We talked on the phone and e-mailed links to each other. At 4 a.m., we had the job done.” Together, Morris and his cousin jumped from one genealogical research site to another. Morris subscribes to several such services. There are U.S. Census reports, military and pension records on CDs piled on a corner of his desk. It wasn’t until they brought the line from one pair of Carr brothers to Phil Carr’s grandfather and substantiated the connection that they called the long trip through time a success. At times like that, Morris said, he stands up, pounds on his desk and awakens his dog with a Rebel yell. Disappointment happens. He may find the right connection, for example, but discover that the ancestor was listed as a deserter, which makes a descendent ineligible for SCV membership. Morris doesn’t give up. “Quite often, a man may have been wounded. If he’s in the hospital, there’s no record of it. Or, he may have gone home to get the crops in, or because there was a death in the family. Then, if I can find he was eventually granted a pension, I know his record was cleared.” He’s found tragedies. Men died before seeing the child who passed on their bloodline. Brothers fought against brothers, fathers against sons. Morris admits that the Confederate flag logo on state plates has attracted attention and that some seeking membership may do so only to display the plate. “We try to weed out those kind,” he said, frowning. It isn’t hard to get a sense of what applicants are like, Morris said. He looks for a serious interest in history and a dedication to family. At a recent meeting, Fred Taylor, commander of the Tom Smith Camp, swore in six of Morris’ success stories. With few exceptions, Confederate soldiers were volunteers who fought for principles of government in which they believed, Taylor told the inductees. “Although defeated, they left us traditions of faith in God, honor, chivalry and respect for womanhood; they left us a passionate belief in freedom for the individual,” said Taylor. Morris, sitting at the head table, smiled. Reach Linda McNatt at 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com |
ON
TUESDAY, FEB. 4, WAVY CHANNEL 10 AIRED A SEGMENT ON BLACK CONFEDERATES.
If you missed it, you can still see it at WAVY's web site at: http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1114196
| Compatriots: It's been an interesting few days here in Suffolk. With the decision by the Mayor to reject Confederate History Month came immediate newspaper coverage, as well as an editorial from the local paper suggesting the SCV projects an "image of redneck racism." Today, I was informed that the Editor of the article had received over 200 emails, letters, and phone calls. As a result, he has agreed to print a retraction and clarification of his comments in tomorrow's edition (Tuesday, April 1) of the Suffolk News-Herald. To add to this, I gave interviews to News Channel 13, WAVY News 10, and the Virginian-Pilot. The Pilot will be featuring the story in tomorrow's edition, News Channel 13 aired a piece on the evening news, and WAVY News 10 is following up on the turn of events on the 11:00pm newscast. Yet, the battle rages on. On Wednesday, April 2nd, the Tom Smith is encouraging its members and supporters in the local community to address the City Council of Suffolk. Suffolk's City Council Meetings are conducted in City Council Chambers - located on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Building at 441 Market Street (Click here for directions: Suffolk Map). Council Meetings are scheduled to commence at 7p.m., and early speaking appearances begin at 6:30 p.m. If you wish to speak during the early appearance portion of the Suffolk City Council meeting, please call 923-2085 to be placed on the agenda. Anyone is allowed to speak at the conclusion of the Council meetings during late appearances, and can sign up at the door. For those of you in Suffolk and surrounding areas, I urge your support in attending this important city council meeting. For those out of you out of town, I encourage you to e-mail, write, and call the Mayor of Suffolk, as well as the City Council, and give them your thoughts about the Mayor's decision to deny a Confederate History & Heritage Month proclamation. (See attached MS Word document, or visit www.tomsmithcamp.com for the contact information for City Council) Contact the Mayor of Suffolk, E. Dana Dickens, III, at: Ph: 757-483-4100 Mailing Address: 2973 Bridge Rd Suffolk, Virginia 23435 Email: danadickens@danadickens.com Let's keep the heat on 'em, and if any of you have any questions about Wednesday's City Council meeting, let me know. Feel free to pass this message on to all those interested. Look forward to seeing you all there. We need your numbers, even if you don't plan to speak, and let's show the City Council that Suffolk supports Confederate History Month! -Fred
D. Taylor, Commander |
| Dear Southern Heritage Supporter: By Andy Prutsok, Editor and Publisher Here we go again. It's as if with the end of winter, all the looniness that's been laying dormant trying to keep warm for the past several months is ready to go into full bloom. On Friday, Mayor E. Dana Dickens III told the News-Herald he had no intention of proclaiming April as Confederate Heritage and History Month. Let's hope that's the last we hear of it. But that's not likely. The commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Tom Smith Camp already called the mayor a hypocrite and accused him of playing politics. I have to come down on the mayor's side on this one. The proclamation is nothing but a hornet's nest and its best that it be permanently removed from discussion. It's a shame that Dickens was put into the position of having to deal with the issue that brought Suffolk national ignominy a year ago when then-Mayor Curtis Milteer caved on the SCV's request. In terms of controversy potential, Milteer may as well have proclaimed it Partial Birth Abortion Month. There's no good that can come from Suffolk being labeled as "defender of the cause." This city is in the process of becoming a progressive, first-class community and an image of redneck racism is not what we need to project if we hope to continue to entice top-notch companies to invest here. I realize that's a harsh and unfair characterization of what the Sons of Confederate Veterans stand for. For the members, it's a way to honor the sacrifice of their ancestors and those with whom I personally acquainted in the Tom Smith Camp are not racists. They have every right to be proud of those ancestors and to honor them in any way they see fit, including asking that the mayor issue a proclamation on their behalf. Nonetheless, the perception in much of the country is of a group that honors the cause for which those ancestors fought and longs for its return - and the membership's election of national commander who is cozying up with white supremacists does nothing to dispel that image and much to reinforce it. But whether we like it or not, perception is as important as reality. Just as the Sons have the right and duty to publicly lobby for recognition of their organization, Mayor Dickens has a duty to do what's best for all the citizens of Suffolk. The best thing for Suffolk - in terms of both image and the improvement of race relations - is for this issue to go away fast. The Sons should respect the decision and move on. I somehow doubt, however,
that we've heard the last of it. City Council has a lot of important work ahead
of it - finalizing its budget and updating the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, issues
that will greatly impact our future. We need to focus all attention on that and
put the past behind us. |
| Contact
the Suffolk City Council & Local Newspapers
- Suffolk's City Council Meetings are conducted in City Council Chambers - located on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Building at 441 Market Street. Council Meetings are scheduled to commence at 7p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. (Early appearances begin at 6:30 p.m.) Suffolk's City Council Meetings are aired live via cablecast on Municipal Channel 8, and tapings are recast during the week. If you wish to speak during the early appearances portion of the Suffolk City Council meeting, please call 923-2085 to be placed on the agenda. E-Mail the Suffolk City Council at: Council@city.suffolk.va.us
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| March 29, 2003 Dear Compatriot: On Friday, March 28, Suffolk Mayor E. Dana Dickens, III, turned down a request from the Tom Smith Camp to proclaim April 2003 as Confederate History & Heritage Month. After meeting with Past Commander Bill Richardson and me for nearly two hours, Mayor Dickens said that such a proclamation could be inflammatory to members of the community, and was quoted in the Suffolk News-Herald as saying the proclamation "…would be very divisive in the city." Unfortunately, at a time when Mayor Dickens could bring the city together and respect those of all cultures, he chooses himself to be divisive in telling the community that we should not recognize the Confederate soldiers who defended Suffolk and Virginia for four long years. Rather than honor Confederate History & Heritage Month on the merits of the issue, Mayor Dana Dickens has succumbed to a mounting political pressure from several of his fellow council members, as well as the Suffolk NAACP. Nonetheless, as citizens here in Suffolk, you do have a voice in this. While a decision to sign a proclamation does rest on the Mayor, it is the City Council who elects that Mayor, and it is we the people of Suffolk who elect those members of Council. In the coming days, I encourage you all to write and call your members of City Council and Mayor Dana Dickens. Along with your comments to the Council, Letters to the Editor are also very important in raising awareness of this issue. I have included all needed contact information with this letter, and hope you will take a few minutes to explain to the City Council and general public the importance of teaching Suffolk's rich history. The City Council will also be meeting on Wednesday, April 2nd at 7 PM, and I urge you to join with your fellow camp members in taking this issue before the Council. For those of you who live outside of the City of Suffolk, I encourage you also to write the City Council and our local newspapers as concerned citizens who wish to see Southern heritage respected. In 1906 the Sons of Confederate Veterans was given a daring charge by Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee to "see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations." Let us forever strive to uphold that, and never let the name of our ancestors be tarnished. Should you have any questions or
concerns in this matter, please feel free to contact me, and be sure to check
out our Tom Smith Camp website at http://www.tomsmithcamp.com for further developments.
Fred D. Taylor, Commander |
Suffolk News-Herald (Suffolk, VA) Saturday, March 29, 2003. Pg. 1. Reproduced with permission.
*******
Suffolk News-Herald, published Oct. 9, 2002
Suffolk News-Herald, published Oct. 11, 2002
[Letter to the Editor, and published by the Suffolk News-Herald on Oct. 18, 2002.
The following text was contributed by Col. Tom Cohoon.]
FREEDOM
!
Editor, The News-Herald:
I understand that the paper's policy
wisely limits the domination of the Letters To The Editor section by a few vociferous
contributors, but I hope that you will be kind enough to pass on my thoughts to
Robert Pocklington.
My dear Robert:
Blinded by political correctness,
you failed to grasp the point of my recent letter to the Editor. It had nothing
to do with pro or con The Confederacy. It had to do with FREEDOM. The freedom
to march or not to march. The freedom to publicly express one's views or not to
do so. You and Mrs. Birdsong have chosen to avail yourselves of that freedom by
publicly speaking out against others who would exercise it. The Sons of The Confederacy
and I have chosen to speak out in defense of that precious freedom. I have dedicated
my life to defending that freedom, not by word alone but by example and deed.
Yes, Robert, I know you were in "The Big One" and both God
and America have blessed you for that, but it's not enough. The defense of freedom
is a life-long endeavor. Be on guard against those who would steal that freedom
from you under the guise of patriotism. The supression of free expression is Nazism
and Communism, not Patriotism.
By comparing my family to the Japanese
& Nazi of WWII, you have done nothing more than expose your ignorance, but
I forgive you. Personal attack is a favorite weapon of left wing radicals as recently
demonstrated by Hollywood proponents of creeping socialism and political correctness.
They are the ones who would suppress your freedom of expression if it's for a
cause they are too ignorant to understand.
I am an eighth generation
Suffolkian and quite proud of my ancestors, two of whom were Officers in The Confederacy.
One returned home penniless to find his land and home had been seized by Carpet
Baggers.
Starting from scratch, he became a business leader who hepled bring
Suffolk up from its knees. He also erected the Confederate Monument in Cedar Hill.
The other went on to become Governor of Alamaba and was subsequently appointed
a Federal Judge by Theodore Roosevelt. He was praised by The President & the
widow of General Grant for his efforts to bring about the healing of our post
war nation. In your eyes they and General Lee may have been Nazi. Ike kept General
Lee's portrait in the Oval Office during his tenure as President so it is unlikely
that he shared your opinion of him. By the way, wasn't Ike your Commander-in-Chief?
Well, enough of my thoughts. Thanks for listening, old man. May God continue to
bless you & America. United we stand.
Respectfully,
Tom Cohoon
| Civil War flag ruling won't be contested By CHRISTINA NUCKOLS, The Virginian-Pilot © May 3, 2002
Copyright
(c) 2002, The Virginian-Pilot. Reprinted with permission. The controversial tags could be on the cars of members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans as early as July. ``Celebrate,'' said state commander Henry Kidd. ``That's what it is. Dixie pride.'' A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the state's refusal to include the flag logo on SCV license plates amounted to discrimination and violated the group's right to free speech. ``We felt the case could not be defended in court
and the commonwealth's resources were best spent elsewhere rather than on a case
that looked like it would lose if it was appealed,'' Warner told reporters. Warner said he consulted two black lawyer-legislators -- Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, D-Norfolk, and Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond -- about his decision. Both agreed that an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court would have little chance of success. Jones, who convinced legislators to approve the SCV plate without the flag in 1999, said he fears that a high court ruling might encourage the issuance of similar license tags around the country. Confederate flags already appear on tags in several states, including North Carolina, Maryland and Alabama. Jones also said that the state-sponsored license plates could exacerbate racial tension in the commonwealth. ``We have enough problems with aggressive driving and being stuck in traffic, and if I'm stuck in traffic behind the Confederate flag, that would enrage me,'' he said. Warner said he shares those concerns. ``The Confederate flag, while a symbol of heritage to some, is clearly offensive to other Virginians,'' he said. ``My hope is we can continue to find ways to heal.'' Leaders of the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans gathered at the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters shortly before Warner and Kilgore announced their decision. ``The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a legitimate historical, civic organization, and it certainly should not be discriminated against because some people may find some reason to find our logo offensive,'' said Collin G. Pulley of Courtland, who was state commander in the late 1990s. Only SCV members are allowed to own the plates. The group has 3,200 members in Virginia. Kidd carried with him 368 applications from SCV members willing to pay $10 apiece for the specialty plates. He said the group plans to submit the applications within the next two weeks. DMV officials said new plates typically are available eight to nine weeks after the first applications are approved. The court ruling is expected to increase pressure on the General Assembly to change the way it handles special license plate requests. Jones said legislators must consider whether to eliminate all novelty tags. ``What will happen when someone's logo includes a burning cross? The DMV would have to issue that plate under this court opinion,'' he said. ``What will happen when someone's logo includes a swastika? The DMV has to issue that plate.'' Virginia has 180 varieties of special license plates. Sales generated $4.8 million for the state last year. Legislators have been hesitant to give up those funds. They also don't relish the criticism they would get for eliminating college plates, which have been among the most popular tags since they were first issued in the early 1980s. Del. Leo C. WardrupJr., R-Virginia Beach, who oversees the legislative panel that reviews special license plate applications, said he does not think the program should be abandoned. ``This is the first major crisis situation we've had since the license plate program has been in existence,'' he said.
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| COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA Office of the Governor Mark R. Warner Governor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2002 Contact:
Ellen Qualls GOVERNOR
WARNER ANNOUNCES DECISION I
further believe, however, that the General Assembly should take a closer look
at the process for granting license plates to interest groups, and I supported
legislation sponsored by Senator John Watkins during the last legislative session
to improve that process." |
| If state appeals flag ruling, case
may reach high court Copyright (c) 2002, The Virginian-Pilot. Reprinted with permission. RICHMOND -- It will take a meeting of minds in Richmond for state officials to decide whether to appeal a recent ruling allowing the Confederate flag on state license plates. That wasn't possible Tuesday. Gov. Mark R. Warner was on the road and couldn't meet with Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, said Ellen Qualls, Warner's press secretary. In the 1999 General Assembly, state Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, D-Norfolk, opposed the display of the flag on state tags because, he said, it reminded him of fear, anger and claims of racial supremacy. Jones said Tuesday he hasn't changed his mind. ``I realize it is a very, very difficult and highly emotional decision,'' Jones said. ``I'm depressed. I'm disappointed. I'm overcome with real malaise that one of these days I may have to pull up to an intersection and see that flag on one of our state plates, a state-sanctioned license plate.'' The controversial issue has been going
on for more than three years. First, at the General Assembly. The lawmakers agreed
to allow the Sons of Confederate Veterans to have a special license plate, but
without the logo that has been a part of that organization for more than 100 years. The state went to the appeals court, and, on Monday, that court, as well, ruled in favor of the SCV. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, after meeting in Richmond last October, said that ``the logo restriction is an instance of viewpoint discrimination . . . and a violation of the First Amendment's strictures.'' Members of the SCV -- more than 3,000 strong in Virginia -- agree. The decision, said Henry E. Kidd, Virginia Division commander, is ``a victory for all Americans. When anybody's constitutional rights are violated, it hurts everybody.'' ``If the state goes against four federal judges now -- what does that say for our judicial system?'' said F. Lee Hart III, a former commander and spokesman for the Tom Smith Camp in Suffolk. ``Either way, it will make a lot of people unhappy, but free speech is free speech.'' The SCV contends that the flag, for its members, represents the bravery of ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. ``We have proven that the SCV is not a racial organization,'' Kidd said. ``Our ancestors sacrificed for the state of Virginia, and it's about time this government started living by the law of the land.'' King Salim Khalfani, executive director of the state NAACP, said that the flag is deemed offensive by a significant number of citizens. ``We want to urge the attorney general and/or the governor to continue the appeals process,'' Khalfani said. ``Either the state can control what goes on license plates, or it needs to get out of the business. No more special license plates, no more proclamations or anything. Our issue with the Confederacy and its symbols is when it comes into the public domain.'' Kidd said that the SCV has met with problems in other states where the flag is displayed on special license plates, but the decision has yet to go to the Supreme Court. If Virginia decides to appeal, it could be a first. And the attorney general would be breaking a campaign promise, said Fred D. Taylor, state president of the Heritage Preservation Association of Virginia, a group that pledges to protect Southern symbols. ``During last year's campaign for attorney general, then-candidate Jerry Kilgore promised he would not take the case any further if the state lost,'' Taylor said. ``It's expected that he will stand by his word.'' Reach Linda McNatt at lmcnatt@pilotonline.com or 222-5561. |
Suffolk
mayor holds firm on Confederate month
By HAROLD NEDD, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 4, 2002
Copyright (c) 2002, The Virginian-Pilot. Reprinted
with permission.
SUFFOLK -- Mayor Curtis R. Milteer Sr.'s proclamation of April as Confederate History and Heritage Month drew protest and praise among more than 100 people Wednesday night.
But Milteer, who has resisted pressure to withdraw the proclamation, defended it as an important recognition for people whose ancestors fought for a cause they believed in. The proclamation is a symbolic gesture paying homage to soldiers who fought to protect a way of life that included slavery.
In signing the proclamation, Milteer, 71 and the city's second black mayor, said: ``We are all Suffolkians, whether we are sons and daughters of Confederates or sons and daughters of former slaves. We have given proclamations to all different groups before, and I feel that each group has a right to their own beliefs.''
The rest of the City Council, however, distanced themselves from the proclamation. They agreed that while Milteer acted within his authority, he didn't reflect their feelings on the issue.
``It's an issue that brings out the strongest of feelings among people,'' said Thomas L. Woodward Jr. ``Where some see heritage, others see hate.'' Woodward said the mayor acted alone and that the council would not support or condemn his action.
``Let this matter rest where it is and let's move ahead,'' Woodward said.
The fallout comes weeks after Gov. Mark R. Warner refused to recognize April as Confederate History Month in Virginia.
``The governor knew better, but your actions, Mr. Mayor, demonstrate that you're out of touch with the community,'' said Clinton Jenkins, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. ``You demonstrated a lack of good judgment and you showed no regard for the community.''
While waiting for the meeting to start, others criticized Milteer, who was appointed mayor in July 2000 by a slim majority of the council, for taking a position for people of Suffolk. ``He's there to cut ribbons and kiss babies,'' said Ted Williams, a retired postal worker. ``You don't go beyond that. The ice is too darn thin for him to take a stand on such a sensitive issue.''
Milteer rallied strong support from advocates of Confederate veterans, who applauded him for issuing the proclamation.
Members of the Tom Smith Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans filled five rows of seats at the meeting, with people wearing stickers with the message ``I support Confederate History Month.'' ``The Confederate flag has our families' blood on it,'' said Henry Kidd, a state commander for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. ``These are the men we are honoring.''
While they didn't publicly speak at the meeting, Suffolk Muslim leaders wondered aloud what they have to do to be recognized by Milteer, who has rebuffed their request to open a City Council meeting with a prayer.
``He stands up for one and rejects the other,'' said Ali Kareem, prayer leader for the Muslim American Society of Suffolk. ``He's supposed to be for all the people.''
Reach Harold Nedd at hnedd@pilotonline.com or 222-5558.
Staff writer Phyllis Speidell contributed to this report.
