by Jon Pyle

Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of guest columns by members of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp 1471 Sons Of Confederate Veterans in commemoration of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Jon Pyle, commander of Urquhart-Gillette Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans, submitted the following proclamation for Confederate History and Heritage Month, which is April:

PROCLAMATION

Whereas in April 1861, the Commonwealth of Virginia, in order to retain her honor, exercised her Constitutional Right to secede from the Union.

Whereas Virginia known as the Mother of Presidents, did not make this decision lightly, but only after exhaustive efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the issues, which divided southern and northern states failed.

Whereas, when Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to put down, what he described as the rebellion in the South, the Old Dominion, in good consciousness, refused to raise her sword against other southern states and voted then and only then to defend herself if attacked.

Whereas, the sons of Virginia heeded the call of there mother state by the tens of thousands to defend their country, their commonwealth, their home, their family from an invading army.

Whereas these brave Virginians of all races and religions fought in the Confederate Armed Forces. These men sacrificed their all and spilled their blood defending the sacred soil of Virginia.

Whereas we must not forget the sacrifices made by the women of the South, who with every ounce of their being supported their men in uniform, undertook the duties normally performed by men and suffered along with their children and other citizens’ untold horrors in a war torn land.

Whereas “after four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude,” as General Robert E. Lee so eloquently wrote, the war for Southern Independence ended for the fabled Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865.

Whereas the honorable blood of the brave Virginians and the thousand of the known and unknown Heroes of Dixie from every state in the south flows through the veins of thousands of Virginia citizens.

Whereas it is the sworn duty and privilege of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to defend the good name of confederate soldiers and sailors and to teach the true history of the South for future generations.

Therefore, the Sons of Confederate Veterans Urquhart–Gillette camp No. 1471 declares the month of April 2011 to be Confederate History and Heritage Month.

JON PYLE is commander of Urquhart-Gillette Camp 1471 Sons Of Confederate Veterans. He can be reached at rebyank@gmail.com.