Calvin E. Johnson Jr.

April 26th is Confederate Memorial Day in Georgia

Do you remember when Confederate Memorial Day was observed in public schools?

Remembering the Great Locomotive Chase

April is the time for baseball, hot dogs and remembering the History and Heritage of Dixie! Did you know that April is Confederate History and Heritage Month in the South and Friday April 26, 2013 is Confederate Memorial Day in Georgia that has been celebrated since 1874? Confederate Memorial Day is also celebrated in April, May and June throughout the many States throughout the South.

Let’s Save Forrest Park, Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park in Memphis

Why do some still continue to try to change the South? Did you know that three Memphis, Tennessee parks named for our great Southern leaders Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest-Forrest Park, Confederate President Jefferson Davis-Jefferson Davis Park and Confederate Park were changed? At Monday night’s meeting the people spoke out loud and clear to return the parks to their Confederate names.

Confederate History and Heritage Month

April 1-30th 2013 is Confederate History and Heritage Month throughout the USA! The Confederate History and Heritage Month Committee of the National and Georgia Division Sons of Confederate Veterans proudly recognizes and appreciates the signing of proclamations by Southern governors, mayors and county commissioners since 1995 designating the month of April as “Confederate History and Heritage Month.”

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from Dixie!

The 150th Anniversary--War Between the States Sesquicentennial continues with events including the soon-to-reopen Jefferson Davis Presidential Library at Beauvoir on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy was of Welsh and his Mother Jane Cook of Scot-Irish descent. A lot has been written about the 150,000 Irishmen who fought for the Union during the War Between the States, but do you know about the 30,000 equally brave Irishmen who fought for the Confederacy? It is written that by population a comparable number of Irishmen fought for the Confederacy as did those who supported the Union.

Remember the Alamo

The year was 1836 and all eyes were upon the State of Texas! “The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion; otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat”-- Lieutenant Colonel Comdt. of the Alamo William Barret Travis.

181st Birthday tribute to General Gordon

Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief, United Confederate Veterans, said of John B. Gordon:

"He was a devout and humble Christian Gentleman. I know of no man more beloved in the South, and he was probably the most popular Southern man among the people of the North."

February is Black History Month. It is also the birthday month of George Washington, our first president. And it is the birthday month of John Brown Gordon of Georgia. John B. Gordon, born February 6, 1832, was an orator, lawyer, statesman, soldier, publisher and Governor of the state of Georgia. He is best known as one of General Robert E. Lee's generals. At Appomattox, his corps' encounter with the Union soldiers under Joshua Chamberlain is a classic story of respect.

Remembering Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson

Do you remember the Don William’s country song “Good Ole Boys like me” which begins with the lyrics: “When I was a kid Uncle Remus he put me to bed with a picture of Stonewall Jackson above my head?” During the month of January students, teachers, parents, Joe and Jane America and the world will hear praise and tribute to the late Civil Rights leader and Baptist Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia…. But, will equal time be given to two more great Americans, General Stonewall Jackson and General Robert E. Lee, who were also born in January?

73rd Anniversary of “Gone with the Wind” premiere

Do you, your parents or grandparents remember the year 1939 when…. The clock was turned back for the premiere of Gone with the Wind at the Loews Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia? This beautiful theater was sadly destroyed by fire in 1978 but many folks still remember when Hollywood came to Atlanta to celebrate that wonderful movie and Atlanta’s own author Margaret Mitchell whose book about the Southern people and the War Between the States would be read by millions of people around the world and be made into an exciting motion picture that has become a classic.

When Love Me Tender premiered in New York

Howdy, Folks! Did you know that Elvis Presley had Cherokee ancestry and November is American-Indian Month? In 1956 America loved President Dwight Eisenhower, Fats Domino sang “I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill”, Buddy Holly and the Crickets appeared at New York’s Paramount Theater and “Love Me Tender” starring Richard Egan, Debra Paget and introducing Elvis Presley premiered at the Paramount Theater located at 43rd Street and Broadway in New York’s Times Square Theater District.

Wirz Memorial

104 years ago, May 12, 1908, the United Daughters of the Confederacy unveiled a monument to the memory of Captain Henry Wirz in Andersonville, Georgia. Our young people are taught about the so-called infamous Andersonville Prison where Captain Henry Wirz served as Commandant but what about the infamous Union prison camps in Chicago and Elmira in New York?

A Hispanic Month tribute to Moses Ezekiel

Black, Hispanic, Jewish, Women’s and Confederate History Month reminds us about those who helped make America great! Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized during September and October and Moses Ezekiel who was proud of his Jewish-Hispanic ancestry was born during the month of October. Arlington National Cemetery is located in the shadow of the Custis-Lee Mansion (Arlington House) that was home to General Robert E. Lee and his family until 1861, and the beginning of the War Between the States. This cemetery was first used in 1864, for the burial of Union soldiers.

142nd Anniversary of Gen. Lee’s death

Every year, the Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia presents a lecture and special events commemorating the Washington College presidency of Robert E. Lee on the anniversary of his death. On Monday, October 8, 2012, the college chapel presented a book signing beginning at 10:30 am, followed by an Address at 12:15 pm in the auditorium. A program commemorating the 142th anniversary of Lee's death featured Jeffry D. Wert, speaking on "Lee and the Rebirth of an Army: From Seven Days to Gettysburg." See details.

A Walton’s 40th Anniversary tribute

Hello, America! Do you remember when John-Boy Walton asked Grandpa Zeb “Do we got something to show we own Walton's Mountain?”…. and his Grandpa replied, quote: “You can't own a mountain any more than you can own an ocean or a piece of the sky. You hold it in trust. You live on it, you take life from it, and once you're dead, you rest in it.” Unquote

Lost in the '60s of Drive-in movies, catfish and Dixie

Hello America! Do you remember the late Southern-American columnist, comedian and speaker Lewis Grizzard (October 20, 1946 –March 20, 1994) who made us laugh, think and be proud of whom we are? There are few that write with the heart and soul of Mr. Grizzard who wrote and spoke compassionately about subjects that included the American-South.

191st Birthday Tribute to General Forrest

Nelson W. Winbush, a Black and respected member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, as a child accompanied his grandfather Louis Napoleon Nelson to United Confederate Veteran Reunions. Private Nelson was a Black Confederate who saw service during the War Between the States Battles of Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Brice's Crossroads and Vicksburg--as a soldier and served as chaplain in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, under Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest. It should be also noted that after the War Between the States, Bedford Forrest returned home with the 'free' black men who fought with him. Sixty-five black troopers were with the General when he surrendered his command in May 1865. Forrest said of these black soldiers, "No finer Confederates ever fought.”

Remembering the Gettysburg Reunion of 1913

As the USA celebrates her 236th birthday on July 4th, Independence Day, let’s pause to remember the events in America’s history that took place during this historic time.

Remembering Jefferson Davis: American Patriot & Southern Hero

The sesquicentennial “150th Anniversary” of the War Between the States continues this year. The Jefferson Davis State Historic Site located in Fairview, Kentucky, will mark this event with the 204th Birthday Commemoration of Jefferson Davis, first and only president of the Confederate States of America, on June 1-3.

Arlington National Cemetery—A Memorial Day Tribute

Monday, May 28, 2012, 11 a.m. in honor of Memorial Day. Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for those who fought for the Confederacy and Union during the War Between the States. It is also the burial place for men and women who fought our nation's wars since the War Between the States.

Confederate Constitution on Display April 26th at UGA

April 26th, Confederate Memorial Day, has been a legal holiday in Georgia since 1874. The annual exhibition of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America will be displayed on Thursday April 26 at the UGA New Richard B. Russell Building on the second floor gallery Special Collections Libraries from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. located at: S. Hull Street.