honor of the Grand Army of the Republic by Charles Strahan, Co. B, 21st Virginia Regiment. A second controversial plaque
added at the ceremony in 1925 graced the statue for nearly 1 years before residents and Bos activists demanded its removal In 2019, the activists had
their way. The second plaque is gone. The tablet read, “The Chasm Is Closed – In memory of the restored Union this tab is dedicated by Union veterans of the Civil War and patriotic citizens of Martha’s Vineyard in honor of the Confederate
soldiers.” The offending phras they objected to read “in hono of Confederate soldiers.” But the political activists made i known that they want the entir monument removed. The offending tablet now
resides inside a museum in Oak Bluffs. A section of the museu
the Chasm is getting wider in America by the day. A monument erected to heal is now swept u
During the Obama years, President Obama and his family enjoyed frequent visits to Martha’s Vineyard. As usual, the President’s advance team ran point for his visits. They considered the statue put up by Confederate to be offensive to Obamas and wanted it covered up or removed for maintenance so as not to insult the first b president. According to locals, that never happened. Strahan’s attempt to foster reconciliation is having the opposite effect in our politica correct America. At the 1891 dedication, Charles Strahan spoke eloquently of a post-Civi War America when he said, “As your father and my father stood shoulder to shoulder at Valley Forge and Yorktown, and stood by their guns on the deck of th Constitution and Chesapeake, so
the sons of the gray will stand with the sons of the blue, shou any foe, domestic or foreign, d
attack that flag.” Such sentime can only be dreamed of today.
Charles Strahan forgave his former enemies despite still carrying the scars of a Yankee bullet. Forgiveness seems to be a lost virtue even if the offen actions took place hundreds of years ago. The Virginian’s gest of good will has been replaced
a bitterness that has taken roo Sadly, the chasm is growing wider, not only on Martha’s Vineyard, but across America. Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful island where many of the rich and famous like to spe
time at their summer homes. The island features pristine beache
that infect the mainland now have encroached on the island. I recently had the privilege of
g S p o r t ing e F A v a i l abl No w Powder Fa•3Fa•4Fa•7Fa •2Fg•3Fg•4Fg
and’s Oak Grove Cemetery not from the Civil War monument thought would bring the ntry together. He’d be turni his grave if he knew his eff reconcile a nation opened a er chasm 137 years after its ication. At the dedication, spoke of Americans living ether as brothers under the e flag. A heartfelt feeling today’s America. The monument and the flag ar h in trouble!
eph F. Wilson lectures on ersonville Prison and The nsylvania Reserves. The ter also wrote and produced documentary film “Civil War sons – An American Tragedy” available on Amazon.
The world wil – Abraham Lin by Joe Bordonaro President Lincoln was wr about the first part, but correct about the second p
this famous phrase from hi nificent “Gettysburg Addre On Nov. 23, 2019, reenacto members of the general pub gathered in Gettysburg, Pe to remember the actions of soldiers and the President
Remembrance Day 2019. Stafford County Scienc Teacher Don Mullen, portra President Lincoln. (Garry Adelman, American Battlefield Trust)
Members of the 14th Brooklyn years ago. The Sons of Union
Veterans held their 62nd ann parade, featuring numerous C War reenactors. Members of r enacting groups commemorated the actions of various indiv and units by conducting marc es and visiting monuments. A “Remembrance Illumination” o
Gettysburg National Cemetery graves occurs each year, as Although the numbers of reen tors are down from its 2000 when Wikipedia estimated the were about 50,000 Civil War enactors; a still impressive
ber showed up this year and the traditions alive. The ac
panying photos highlight som activities that took place. Joe Bordonaro is a USAF vete
