| Date: | October 6, 2015 5:04:27 PM |
| Subject: | URGENT! CONFEDERATE SOLDIER'S REMAINS AT OAK HILLS |
Gentlemen,
With all of the difficult news we've had to deal with in recent months, I believe I have some GOOD NEWS to share with you. The Veterans Administration (V/A) has finally agreed to reinter the remains of what appears to be a Confederate Soldier - whose remains were found along Wilson's Creek at the Battle Field site. Let us rejoice in the fact that a human being will be given the dignity of being laid to rest. The soldier will be laid to rest in the CONFEDERATE SECTION OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.
Here is a portion of the Press Release I received today:
______________________________________________________________________________
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would like to inform you
that on October 17, 2015, the Springfield National Cemetery will conduct a
committal service for a Civil War soldier whose affiliation cannot
conclusively be determined.
In 2011, the National Park Service (NPS) discovered the unearthed remains
of the unknown Civil War soldier at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
Because NPS administers the national battlefield, they conducted an
investigation into the origin of the remains but were unable to determine
the individual's identity or whether he served for the Union or the
Confederacy. The Secretary of the Interior made a request to the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs for burial of the unknown remains in Springfield
National Cemetery, which was approved.
The committal service will begin at 10:00am at the cemetery rostrum and
continue to Grave #286, Section 1 South. The gravesite will be marked with
a headstone that indicates the soldier is "unknown". VA anticipates that
attendees will include Veterans, Civil War re-enactors, local state and
federal partners as well as members of the general public. The committal
service will feature remarks by Springfield National Cemetery and Wilson
Creek Battlefield officials and will include funeral honors.
Under 38 United States Code 2404(h)(1)(C), families may display any
religious or other symbols during an interment or committal service.
Because the remains of this Civil War soldier are unknown and family cannot
be identified, there will be no display of religious or other symbols,
including display of any historic flag, during the October 17th committal
service. VA and the Department of the Interior will make guidance available
to attendees.
___________________________________________________________________________
As you can see, there will be NO FLAGS allowed -- No Battle flags or any other flags except for the modern flag of the United States of America (50 star flag). WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS WHATSOEVER - THIS IS THE V/A's POLICY AND WE CANNOT DISPLAY ANY FLAGS. Historically, the Battle Flag was most likely not present at the Battle of Oak Hills, but rather the 1st National Confederate Flag. Although we wish we could display our flags, we must take this as it is at this point: A Confederate American Soldier is getting funeral honors and will be laid to rest in the CONFEDERATE SECTION OF THE CEMETERY. Again, let us take this as it is and honor this man.
I urge you to attend this ceremony, I and many other SCV members will be there, and this is a chance to honor a man that stood for what he knew to be just and right - and lost his life as a result. Please make every effort to be there for this ceremony to honor this man... a soldier and a hero.
It is also hoped that at a later date, the MO Division can do a remembrance ceremony of our own... those details will have to be decided upon at another time.
Please share this email with your camp memberships immediately.
Confederate Regards,
Darrell Maples - Commander
Missouri Division - SCV
With all of the difficult news we've had to deal with in recent months, I believe I have some GOOD NEWS to share with you. The Veterans Administration (V/A) has finally agreed to reinter the remains of what appears to be a Confederate Soldier - whose remains were found along Wilson's Creek at the Battle Field site. Let us rejoice in the fact that a human being will be given the dignity of being laid to rest. The soldier will be laid to rest in the CONFEDERATE SECTION OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.
Here is a portion of the Press Release I received today:
______________________________________________________________________________
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would like to inform you
that on October 17, 2015, the Springfield National Cemetery will conduct a
committal service for a Civil War soldier whose affiliation cannot
conclusively be determined.
In 2011, the National Park Service (NPS) discovered the unearthed remains
of the unknown Civil War soldier at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
Because NPS administers the national battlefield, they conducted an
investigation into the origin of the remains but were unable to determine
the individual's identity or whether he served for the Union or the
Confederacy. The Secretary of the Interior made a request to the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs for burial of the unknown remains in Springfield
National Cemetery, which was approved.
The committal service will begin at 10:00am at the cemetery rostrum and
continue to Grave #286, Section 1 South. The gravesite will be marked with
a headstone that indicates the soldier is "unknown". VA anticipates that
attendees will include Veterans, Civil War re-enactors, local state and
federal partners as well as members of the general public. The committal
service will feature remarks by Springfield National Cemetery and Wilson
Creek Battlefield officials and will include funeral honors.
Under 38 United States Code 2404(h)(1)(C), families may display any
religious or other symbols during an interment or committal service.
Because the remains of this Civil War soldier are unknown and family cannot
be identified, there will be no display of religious or other symbols,
including display of any historic flag, during the October 17th committal
service. VA and the Department of the Interior will make guidance available
to attendees.
___________________________________________________________________________
As you can see, there will be NO FLAGS allowed -- No Battle flags or any other flags except for the modern flag of the United States of America (50 star flag). WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS WHATSOEVER - THIS IS THE V/A's POLICY AND WE CANNOT DISPLAY ANY FLAGS. Historically, the Battle Flag was most likely not present at the Battle of Oak Hills, but rather the 1st National Confederate Flag. Although we wish we could display our flags, we must take this as it is at this point: A Confederate American Soldier is getting funeral honors and will be laid to rest in the CONFEDERATE SECTION OF THE CEMETERY. Again, let us take this as it is and honor this man.
I urge you to attend this ceremony, I and many other SCV members will be there, and this is a chance to honor a man that stood for what he knew to be just and right - and lost his life as a result. Please make every effort to be there for this ceremony to honor this man... a soldier and a hero.
It is also hoped that at a later date, the MO Division can do a remembrance ceremony of our own... those details will have to be decided upon at another time.
Please share this email with your camp memberships immediately.
Confederate Regards,
Darrell Maples - Commander
Missouri Division - SCV
