Calvin E. Johnson Jr.

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.

Confederate Memorial Day in Dixie

Did you know that the first Memorial Day in America was held in the South in honor of both the soldiers of Union Blue and Confederate Gray? Some folks call the War Between the States, 1861-1865, a lost cause but stories of the heroic--brave men and women who stood for Southern Independence are still cherished in the hearts and souls of many people throughout the South. Why do people remember?

150 Anniversary of America’s Great Locomotive Chase

This year marks the 56th anniversary of the Walt Disney classic movie "The Great Locomotive Chase" starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter and….. April 12, 2012, is the Sesquicentennial-150th Anniversary of America’s "Great Locomotive Chase" that made "The General" famous. A re-premiere showing of this family classic will take place in Marietta, Georgia on April 12th at the beautifully restored Strand Theater in Marietta’s Historic Square.

April 1-30th 2012 is Confederate History and Heritage Month throughout the USA!

The Confederate History 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."

Gen. Patrick Cleburne—The Fighting Irishman

Saturday, March 17, 2012 is Saint Patrick’s Day and the 184th birthday of Patrick Ronayne Cleburne. Do you remember the 1961 weekly television series, entitled “The Americans?” This wonderful-educational show centered around two brothers who fought on opposite sides of the War Between the States—Confederate Corporal Jeff Canfield played by Richard Davalos and Union Corporal Ben Canfield played by Darryl Hickman. Their Father, Pa Canfield, was played by the late great John McIntire. The wonderful theme music was produced by Hugo Friedhofer and original music by Bernard Hermann. Why don’t they make shows like this anymore?

Celebrating Black History Month in the South

February is Black History Month and 2011 through 2015 marks the 150th Anniversary of the War Between the States, Forgotten Confederates—An Anthology about Black Southerners, Movie Glory