SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS TO REPLACE FLAGS AT UNION SPRINGS

Gary Carlyle, Commander of the Alabama Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, announced today that at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, May 23rd, the SCV will replace the memorial flags which were recently removed from a Confederate cemetery in Union Springs, Alabama by an individual in that town.

In a statement, Carlyle said that he wished to thank Mayor Saint T. Thomas, Jr. and the City Council of Union Springs for working together with the Sons of Confederate Veterans on the restoration project.

"The Mayor and the Council have been very understanding and co-operative with us," said Carlyle. "He has been very helpful in making this happen."

Ben Jones, Chief of Heritage Operations for the 30,000 member Sons of Confederate Veterans, an international organization of men who are directly descended from those who fought for the Confederacy, praised the Mayor for "taking a clear stance for healing and reconciliation."

"The removal of these flags from the graves of our ancestors was a terribly wrong-headed, provocative and divisive action," said Jones. "No amount of political sanctimony can excuse it. Our membership asks that this ceremony on Saturday will be given the respect and reverence it deserves by all. We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Thomas during this time, and we are hopeful that the event will take place in an atmosphere of reflection and genuine understanding. "

OFFICIAL SCVNEWS POST