Monday, April 25, 2011

Confederate Memorial Day in Alabama

Today is a state holiday in Alabama to remember soldiers who died during the War Between the States (1861-1865). In Selma, Confederate Circle at Old Live Oak Cemetery displays monuments, a flag and cannon.  A wreath will also be placed. The cemetery is the final resting place of numerous Confederate soldiers.

7 comments:

Jonathan K said...

Can't you just call it the Civil War?

Janet said...

Jonathan K, Sure, it can be called The (American) Civil War, which is its most common reference. But after the war, southerners generally called it the War Between the States, which is why I used that term for Confederate Memorial Day. It also has been called (by southerners) as The War of Northern Aggression and Mr. Lincoln's War and by Northerners as the War of Southern Rebellion, among others. Thanks!

Lois said...

It does have many names, but it was an important time in our history and these soldiers do deserve to be honored. There are some Confederate (and Union) soldiers' graves in the Old City Cemetery here in Tallahassee.

Tanya Breese said...

here in va they don't do confed memorial day but have lee-jackson day holiday..birthdays of robert e lee and stonewall jackson :)

Janet said...

So true, Lois, and most of us southerners had forebears who fought for both sides.

Tanya Breese said...

just checking in on you after those big storms....hope you and selma are ok!!

Janet said...

Thanks for your concern, Tanya. Selma is fine. We were on the extreme southern end of the high-risk area, and the closest tornadic storm was at least 12 miles north of us. But so much of north-central Alabama is just devastated. I don't ever recall such a widespread outbreak of monster tornadoes and storms.