Evening star., 1961-04-14
Civil War Centenary


article by Ralph McGill and
one or two letters to the edi-
tor critical of the re-enact-
ment of the First Battle of
Manassas Bull RUM. Most
of the questions raised are
adequately answered in the
extension of remarks made
by Senator Harry F. Byrd
in the Congressional Record
of February 20.
Why have a re-enactment?
the writer's ask. I might in
turn ask why did Congress
enact and the President ap-
prove legislation supporting
Civil War Centennial activ-
tiles? Why maintain bat
tlefield parks such as Man.
assaS, which is one of the
largest in the United States?
Why do thousands of people
walk in reverence over the
ground where their ancestors
fought and died? Why are
people coming from France,
Canada and all over the
United States to 'view the
actin ent we have
planned? The answers to
these questions can probably
be found in the legacy of
patriotism, valor and fidelity
transmitted to the youth of
America by those who fought
for their convictions and
principles during the Civil
War. We hope the audience
will be reminded that those
same qualifications are
needed to resolve the prob
lens our country faces today.
We are proud of Virginia's
role in the Civil War. The
re-enactment is not a COM
mercial venture, but we are
nevertheless confident that it
will attract millions of tourist
dollars to our State. I think
our efforts could with logic
be argued and justified from
many angles.
Quoting Senator Byrd:
". The Civil War Gen.
tennial is an object les
son to us of the tragedy
which results when men seek
to use force to solve their
problems. In the struggle
with international commu-
niSm in which we are en-
gagged, the American people
must be willing to display
the same spirit of sacrifice
which they showed in the
Civil War.
e. improperly handled,
the centennial could become
a divisive factor in our midst.
1t is to the credit of the
American people that no Of
ficial agency concerned with
the centennial has de-
termined to refight this war.
All have seen the centennial
as an opportunity to derive
inspiration from the deeds
of the heroic men and
women of both North and
South, in order, as President
Eisenhower said on July 6,
1859, to renew our dedica-
tion to the task which yet
confronts us - the further
ance, together with other
free nations of the world, of
the freedom and dignity of
man and the building of a
just and lasting peace
"The Civil War, like any
other war, was a tragedy.
Therefore its Tooth annivers-
airy, is not a celebration. It
is a commemoration.
1.-THE chief purpose of the
centennial is to strengthen
the unity of the country
through mutual understand
ing-an understanding de-
rived from the realization that
there was dedication and de-
votion on both sides. North
and South, there were those
who gave all they had in
support of what they sin
cerely believed was right. :"
r. Jackson Radcliffe
President, First Manassas
Corp, Manassas, Va.
+ y + Il
I read with deep resent
ment a recent letter to The
Star by one Macon Fry, to
the effect that he sympa-
thizes with the feeling
against celebrating the Civil
War Centennial but would
be overjoyed to participate
in the re-enactment of bat
ties, provided he could use
live ammunition aiming at
Yankees. The letter hardly
deserves the dignity of a re-
ply, except to point out one
thing-the same attitude
and quick temper were pre-
valent among those who
fired on this nations flag
at Fort Sumter on April IL,
1851 and precipitated a war
that caused the loss of more
American lives than World