Fly the stars and bars on memorial day?

[victorcharlie]

As memorial day weekend approaches, I would like to honor my ancestors who fought on both sides of the War of Northern Aggression.

So........Fly the stars and bars or leave it in the closet?

[22rimfan]

Victorcharile, there is a Confederate Memorial Day, established by the Daughters of the Confderacy (I believe it was them).  The exact date depends on where you live.  Some people celebrate it on April 29th, due to Johnston surrendering to Sherman,  while others, like us in Tennessee, have decided to celebrate it on June 3rd, Jefferson Davis' Birthday.  A good friend of mine celebrates the occasion on both 4/26 and 6/3.  As for flying the flag, it is your choice.  Another option would be to fly it on all 3 days.  Hope this helps.
Aaron

p.s. I found this info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_Memorial_Day

[gwindrider1]

Fly the colors!  Be proud of your heritage, and your ancestors.  Let the neighbors think you are some sort of deranged redneck.  It keeps them off balance.  :wink:

[buffalohunter]

I fly my Stars and Bars all year long, I do it to honor my family who laid down ther lives for southern rights.

[wncchester]

Fly it with pride.  It is a sad commentary on "modern education" but very few people now, even in the South, know what the "stars and bars" flag looks like.   Most seem to assume it is the Confederate battle flag, that being the official naval jack, but they are  wrong.   

Ah well ... ignorant liberals do rule the schools now don't they? 

[S.S.]

I was looking at some of the flags of the Confederacy,
And was Kind of surprised to see how close the Current Georgia flag
is to one of them. The Saint Andrews cross (Stars and Bars) would
never have been an issue if the Clan had not used it as a rallying item.
I must admit that even today, the Stars and Bars exude an Aura Of
strength and defiance unlike probably any other flag on Earth.
There is still so much fear and or respect it commands, that
it is almost Mystical sometimes to see one fluttering in the wind.
Raise That Battle Standard over a couple of divisions of heavy infantry
in Iraq with a few thousand rebel yells being uttered all at once
and I'll bet thing Quiet down a lot over there real Quick. I assure you
that they would be terrified of what they saw and heard!!!
They would think that the South was about to rise again !
The North has feared that for going on 150 years !
The Iraqis would then understand why !!!
 

[Dee]

Fly it with pride.  It is a sad commentary on "modern education" but very few people now, even in the South, know what the "stars and bars" flag looks like.   Most seem to assume it is the Confederate battle flag, that being the official naval jack, but they are  wrong.   

Ah well ... ignorant liberals do rule the schools now don't they? 

I wonder how many know, what the flag signifies, or who designed it, and what he had in mind with it's design. As I recall, General Beauegard a strong Christian designed it with this in mind. The X signifies the Cross of Saint Anthony I believe, who was crucified on such a cross not considering himself worthy of one like Christ. The three smaller stars on each BAR amount to twelve, signify the twelve tribes of Israel, with the larger star in the middle signifying Christ. The blue background of the stars, signify the Heavens, and the red, the blood of Christ. If my memory IS correct, and I believe it is. Then the Confederate Flag is more of a Christian Statement, than a flag of hatred. Funny how an issue such as slavery (which was wrong and both sides were guilty of) could cloud the truth, and completely overshadow the real issues that started the UNCIVIL war.

[S.S.]

The St. Andrew's cross flag is a thing of beauty and always will be.

[Dee]

I believe you are correct. St. Andrew, rather than Anthony. It had been a while since I had read that. At least I got the rest of it right. I think.

[wncchester]

Ok guys, you have proven my comment on the "Stars and Bars" issue!    ;-)

The St. Andrews cross flag was the Confederate Naval Jack,  it came to be the Battle Flag.  The change was neccessary because the original Stars and Bars somewhat resembled the Union flag.  The Confederate Stars and Bars actually had a small field of blue with a circle of stars much like the Union's and three broad horizontal bars instead of the Union's thirteen narrow stripes.

It was easy enough for cannoneers to see the differences on a clear day but they soon found they needed a greater contrast when clouds of black powder smoke or rain began to drift over distant battlefields.  The scarlett St. Andrews Cross flag did pretty well in keeping Southern cannon from firiing on their own as they drove the Northern forces from the field, again, at second Bull Run.

[nabob]

I've lived both in the North and the Deep South. Decoration Day is for everyone, no matter what side they fought on.

History of Decoration Day can be found here.

[Dee]

I agree, Memorial Day is for all FALLEN SOLDIERS. North and South.

[S.S.]

My family had a really bad time from the Civil War,
and as I said from one of my other posts, All except
one of my family members were non-combatants.
they were merchants and held no slaves either!
I do not see the northern Militants as "Soldiers"
They were Thieves, Murderers, and Rapists..
Most of the commanders should be tried (after the fact)
for war crimes. I wonder how many RICH northerners would loose
their fortunes if they had to return what was stolen from the South.
or an equivelent sum in money. I do not and will not honor those Murderers
who came from the North No more than I wouild a serial killer. After what
Sherman did in the South and to my family, I think it is a shame that any of his
killers or Him Made it back out of Georgia. The ones who didn't make it back should have been buried in a mass grave and a sewage dump built on top of it. I will not honor
anyone who was not deserving of it ! The Animals that traveled with Sherman
deserve no respect...

[alsaqr]

One thing bugs me about Memorial Day.  On a Memorial Day a few years ago i had a heated discussion at a cemetery in WV.  Some good intentioned  folks were putting US flags on graves, including my Confederate ancestor's grave.  i called attention to the fact that my ancestor was Confederate and that there was a Confederate battle flag on his grave.  i was called unpatriotic.  This p@##$% me off so i unloaded and told them that i am a US Army retiree and that i have the blood of 12 Revolutionary War ancestors and John Hart, Signer, in my veins.   That took them aback a little and a rather friendly discussion ensued.  They are really good folks.  Every year i furnish them with battle flags for Confederate graves.   

[Dee]

So what bugs you on Memorial Day? You told us about an altercation you had over an ancestors grave but, it worked out to a good relationship with the people. What's the bug part?

[victorcharlie]

Having done a bit of genealogy research on several branches of the family tree.......I do have a fair number of kin that fought for the wrong side........the embarrassment of finding out I have some yankee blood mixed in is hard to live with.......

On a more serious side......I'm proud of them all....as each had the courage to fight for something they believed in...........

Truly an American tragedy.