First, I would like to thank Mr. Richard Powell for his comments and suggestions expressed about the Confederate statue in the town of Stuart in the local paper on Sept. 6. It is a breath of fresh air to read constructive words when we are being inundated with political sounds bites and rhetoric from politicians, elected officials, racist groups and others with an agenda, who seem to not care or have any concept of what history really is.

Being a history buff and very much into historic preservation, I too attended the Patrick County Board of Supervisors meeting, for the first time I might add, not knowing really what to expect. I listened closely to everyone’s comments, while not agreeing with everything that was said, I was impressed how civil and respectful the meeting was, unlike other places around the state and country were discussions of this nature turn into shouting matches.

I heard a comment that Patrick County was better than that; seems it was proven that night.

I was happy to see that the board voted overwhelmingly to support the courthouse statue. States exercising what they believed was their constitutional right of secession is what brought on war. The institution of slavery and all of it’s complications was just one of the causes.

I recently heard a comment that hit the nail on the head. It was by the late Shelby Foote, an author who wrote a three volume set that is as good as any you will ever read, entitled, “The Civil War a Narrative.” Foote said this, “Those who say that slavery had nothing to do with the war are just as wrong as those who say slavery had everything to do with war, it was very complicated.“

That is the case in most issues, it is always somewhere in between. But in reality, in my opinion, it is irrelevant what our thoughts and judgments are today. We were not there. People of their day made decisions based on the times in which they lived and that is a far, far cry from today. My hope is that people of tomorrow don’t make the same mistakes about us as some of us are making about people of the past.

As far as Mr. Powell’s suggestion on a transforming the Confederate monument to an American war memorial, I like the concept, but disagree somewhat on how that could happen for a couple of reasons. When one takes a close look at the images and inscriptions and the obvious Civil War soldier standing atop, it can be nothing but what it is. It pays tribute to Jeb Stuart and all the Patrick Countians who answered the call and to those who did not return.

More citizens fought and died in this fight than all of the other wars combined. I believe the statue has earned the right to stand alone. We have bronze memorials to our veterans who died in other wars already in place on the courthouse lawn and more should be added, and do not forget the “Wall of Honor“ in the county administration building.

Why not a separate memorial with Mr. Powell’s quote: “In Memory of all Americans who fought and died.“ I would consider it a privilege to be part of that effort. Who knows, maybe Patrick County could set an example to other localities and regions who don’t seem to know how to get their act together. Again, thank you Mr. Powell for you thoughtful insights.

Ronnie S. Haynes

Stuart