The History of Confederate Memorial Day For Confederate History Month From: [email protected] April 19, 2002 Permission is granted to repost, reprint and rebroadcast!!!!! April 26th is Confederate Memorial Day In Georgia and many states!!!! "Confederate History and Heritage Month" A Month of Remembrance By Calvin E. Johnson, Jr. Kennesaw, Georgia Web site: http://members.aol.com/dix414036/opinions/index.htm "Confederate History and Heritage Month" A Month of Remembrance!!!!! American's have always held a very special place in their heart for young people and most especially their children. Moma's and Daddy's show love for their children, teach them great values and right from wrong and tell them great stories of their Grandpa's and Grandma's who helped build this great country. In 2002, American's, everywhere, will remember and pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed all and fought for the right of determination and the Confederate Cause, during April's month long celebration of Confederate History and Heritage Month. During the last decade Governor's, Mayor's and County Commissioners have honored those who wore the Confederate Gray with Proclamations. It has been more then a century since the 1st Confederate Memorial Day's were observed throughout this nation and I believe this story about a Moma's love for her little girl is a great story to tell about the origin of Confederate Memorial Day which now has become a month long occasion. Bring you kids close in and share with them this wonderful story. It was written in the year of Lord and Savior 1893, in that years issue of the Confederate Veteran Magazine, an article by Mrs. George Frye stated that Mrs. Charles J. Williams of Columbus, Georgia instituted the custom of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers, a custom which has been adopted by many states of the US. Mrs. Williams was the daughter of Major John Howard, of Milledgeville, Georgia, and was considered a very superior woman. She married Major C.J. Williams on his return home from the War with Mexico. As Colonel of the 1st Georgia Regiment, of the Army of Virginia during the War Between the States, he contracted a disease, and died in 1862. Mrs. Williams and her little girl visited his grave everyday, and often comforted themselves by wreathing it with flowers. While the mother sat abstractly thinking of the loved one, the little girl would pluck the weeds from the unmarked soldiers' graves, near her fathers, and cover them with flowers, calling them her soldiers' graves. After a short time the Angel's summoned the little girl to be with her father. The sorely bereaved mother took charge of the unknown graves for her child's sake, and as she cared for them, thought of the thousands of patriot graves throughout the South. Far away from home and kindred a plan was suggested to her of setting a day apart in each year, that one may pay tribute to valor throughout the United States. She started out, with help from the press, to generate interest in Legislation from the Potomac to the Rio Grande that would make April 26th the day set aside for Confederate Memorial Day and it was done in many states. Mrs. Williams died on April 15, 1874, and was buried with full military honors. She lived long enough to see her plan a huge success and in 2002, the memory lives on for the men and women of Dixie who gave us such a wonderful heritage. April will be Proclaimed far and wide as "Confederate History and Heritage Month." Learn more about the men and women of the Old Confederacy through your library and historical group. God Bless America! --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.351 / Virus Database: 197 - Release Date: 4/19/02