If we are to survive as a Southern people we must remember our ancestors, preserve our culture and prevent future attacks from eroding our love and loyalty whose the landmarks of our heritage. We must take the offensive instead of remaining on the defensive. Two examples of this are: the Battle For Columbia" and the "Wade Hampton Memorial Service" both of which are becoming permanent events that are gaining in popularity.

We must educate our people as to why the War for Southern Independence was fought. General Robert E. Lee stated: "All that the South has ever desired was the Union as established by our forefathers should be preserved and that the government as originally organized should be administered in purity and truth." In other words, the South fought to preserve its say of life after it was invaded by the North. The Yankees were the aggressors and President Lincoln was determined to start the war and defeat the South so that he could change the Constitutional Republic into an irresponsible Democracy and take control of the Southern economy do he could build a much stronger Union than allowed by the Constitution.

Our ancestors were Celts from Scotland and Ireland, English and Germans and French Huguenot's all settled in our Southland. They brought their Christian faith with them. Their Christianity produced a strong sense of regional loyalty and a tenacious devotion to family and friends. Coupled with the fact that the South was basically an agrarian society which made for a very pleasant and peaceful lifestyle. It is easy to understand why Southern people, both soldiers and civilian, fought so desperately to preserve their way of life. Without a doubt, when the Southern men left their homes to go to the battlefront, they went with a deep sense of personal pride, devotion and honor to defend their farms, homes and firesides, plus their families, cultural and religious values.

The Northerners at first came to America for the same reasons as the Southerners, but by the very beginning of the l800s they began to change from an agrarian to an industrial society. They depended on factories and ship building and commerce. Their Christianity lost its purity. Most of their churches became liberal and Unitarian, and so they began to replace the Biblical Gospel with the Social Gospel that, called for among other things, the abolition of slavery. As their trade with Europe increased, they wanted to make money from high tariffs. Lincoln himself said that he had to invade the South, because he could not raise the tax money he needed to build a more industrial nation as long as Southern harbors remained free ports. When South Carolina seceded, he was determined to invade the South as soon as he could provoke the South Carolinians into firing on Fr. Sumter. In l850, Presbyterian Pastor and Theologian, James Henley Thornwell, said the following at the dedication of Zion Church in Charles, the largest Church in South Carolina which was exclusively for the purpose of educating black slaves and free blacks: "The parties in this conflict are not merely abolitions and slaveholders - they are atheists, socialists, communists, red reublicans, Jacobins, on the one side, and the friends of order and regulated freedom on the other. in one word, the world is a battle-ground - Christianity and atheism are the combatants and the progress of humanity is at stake." He describes the cause of the war, which he knew was coming, perfectly.

After the invasion, Major General Patrick Cleburne knew what defeat would mean to the South when he stated: "Surrender means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy; that our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers; learn from Northern school books their version of the war, and taught to regard our gallant dead as traitors and our maimed veterans as fit subjects of derision. After the Lincoln policy of "total war" against Southern civilians, and the utter destruction of States' Rights, Cleburne was proven right.

Reconstruction was imposed to utterly demoralize the Southern people. But even in defeat Southerners were not willing to give up their beloved homeland, and in part they recovered it, by the very late 70s. The North failed to destroy Southern pride, culture and Christianity.

Our duty today is to win the battle for the all out cultural war being waged against us by our enemies, including some traitors who have turned their backs on their native South. But win we must. We mube be on the offensive and counter every attack by those who would destroy us. Above our, we must honor our Confederate ancestors and continue to honor the God they worshiped.

We must continue to live up to the Charge given us by General Stephen Dill Lee. Let's truly observe Confederate Memorial Day.

The following is a poem by Gerald Johnson, Commander of the COL. Charles F. Fisher Camp #813 in Graham North Carolina in l999. Incidentally, it could be read at US Veterans Memorial Services as well.

"Never Forget the Confederate Vet"
Would the North reason? Must we fight?
The Constitution agreed -
the South was right!
But was was might over right -
if you'll but read - that broke the back of the "Confederacy."
Early victories gave us hope-
That in a year or two-the "Yanks" would choke!
After all we had "Stonewall" and Robert E. Lee -
But fate would determine our destiny.
Battle worn and numerically thin-
The war for "Southern Independence" as coming to an end.
As brave men fought and multitudes gave all-
Soon the Confederacy with their dreams would fall.
Our women were diligent, remaining true to the cause -
Whatever was needed - they did without pause.
The land was scorched - the fields were bare -
The stench of death filled the air.
Oh when before had so many suffered so much?
Battle flags now furled - midst a silent hush.
It wasn't for slavery that they freely gave their lives -
But for a noble stand called HONOR, or SOUTHERN PRIDE!
Once a mighty army marched - as they said their goodbyes- Now only tears filled the mourner's eyes.
And WHY? I ask? Did they die in vain?
Tell me why these souls were slain?
Conquered, but NOT defeated - we must NEVER FORGET -
our history - our heritage - THE CONFEDERATE VET!