Georgia Celebrates Confederate Memorial Day
The Capitol and all state agencies will be closed April 23 in recognition of Confederate Memorial Day.
Are you a son or daughter of the Confederacy? Today, April 23, Georgians are celebrating Confederate Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor those who died fighting for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
Confederate Memorial Day is a holiday for state employees. According to the state website, the holiday is observed Monday, though it is officially Thursday, April 26.
Technically, there is no holiday officially known as Confederate Memorial Day in Georgia, which originally held it April 26 to commemorate the surrender of Confederate troops to Union Gen. William T. Sherman. The original routine began in 1874.
In 1984, the Georgia Legislature eliminated the official reference. The law now reads (per georgia.gov)
(1) All days which have been designated as of January 1, 1984, as public and legal holidays by the federal government; and (2) All other days designated and proclaimed by the Governor as public and legal holidays or as days of fasting and prayer or other religious observance. In such designation the Governor shall include at least one of the following dates: January 19, April 26, or June 3, or a suitable date in lieu thereof to commemorate the event or events now observed by such dates.
The 1984 legislation dropped the names of all official state holidays from the Georgia Code. In one sense, this eliminated any state holiday known as Confederate Memorial Day, Robert E. Lee's Birthday, or Jefferson Davis's Birthday - or Thanksgiving or Christmas. Rather, Georgia observes whatever federal holidays were observed as of January 1, 1984. Additionally, the governor is charged with selecting January 19, April 26, or June 3 - or an alternative date more suitable - for commemorating any or all of the persons or events formerly recognized on those three dates.
Share your thoughts on this holiday. Should Confederate Memorial Day be a state holiday? Let us know in the comments.
Compiled by Steve Burns.
Jimmy Orr
3:07 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Hey Steve, you need to back up and punt on this one. April 26th. was not a day set aside to commemorate the surrender to that scalawag Yankee General William Tecumseh Sherman by our brave men who wore the gray during the War of Northern Aggression. The first Confederate Memorial Day service was held at St. Luke Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia to commemorate our Confederate dead. As a lad growing up in Columbus, GA in the fifties, a select platoon from my high school JROTC program marched, along with other JROTC units and military units from nearby Ft. Benning, following the conclusion of memorial services at St, Luke to Linwood Cemetary where an honor guard from Ft. Benning fired a 21 gun volley over the grave of Confederate General Henry Benning. It was a privilege to have marched during the three years (required) that I was in the JROTC program. Should April 26th. be a state holiday? You betcha.
Virginia Moon
11:48 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
I want to commend you I just watched 11 Alive and they were so iritating that it upset me, The news anchor woman had to mention that many do not aprove of celebrating this day because it represented a day of slavery, but to me it represents the day our forefather stood up and faught and died to defind our state and land from takeover of the northern politicians. They can twist the truth about History all they want, but it was not about slavery untill Lincold thought he could not win the war anyother way. Thank you sir for standing up for our forefathers. Who only wanted to protect their land and Family. Jackson and Lee faught and taught in the Union Military schools because they believed in our country untill our country turned against us, then they believed in fighting for their state first. I just wish our Governor Deal was as strong as Jackson and Lee and decided to make it an official State Holiday. EVery one else gets to celebrate their history, but let a southerner born and raised in the south try to celebrate theirs and its racism or something. Again thank you sir.
Jimmy Orr
4:19 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
The first Confederate Memorial Day service was organized under the auspicies of the Ladies Memorial Association at St. Luke Methodist Church in Columbus, GA and held on April 26, 1866. The date April 26th was selected as that was the date that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his small remaining forces in the Carolinas to Yankee General William T. Sherman. Johnston had fought against Sherman during the battle of Atlanta but was relieved of command after withdrawing. He was returned to command of the remaining forces in the Carolinas campaign. However, the day chosen was to set aside as a day to memorialize our Confederate war dead. It was never intended to commemorate the surrender. Having a day in the spring was also a consideration. The Georgia Historical Marker commemorating the first Confederate Memorial Day is located at the intersection of 2nd. Avenue and 11th. Street in Columbus, GA on the corner where St. Luke (United) Methodist Church is, as it was in 1866, presently located.
Cindy Rambeau
8:31 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Thank You, Jimmy Orr for writing this History for Everyone. My 2nd Great Grandfather was a member of The Original United Confederate Veterans, of Bibb County., R.W, Smith Camp UCV. I had 4 other Confederate Grand Fathers, and I am Proud to be able to write this. God Bless All, and Deo Vindice. KEEP IT FLYING.
p.s. I would like to recommend some Books and Movie for People interested about learning The Truth of 1861-1865+...Authors, The Kennedy Bros. Ronald and Donald Kennedy of Louisiana, Professor Thomas J. Dilorenzo of Maryland, and the Writings by Well Known Georgia Confederate Charles H. Smith (1826-1903) a/k/a/ "Bill Arp"..He was a writer for The Atlanta Paper, and many Hundreds of other Papers in the US.
An Excellent Movie about The Beginning of The War, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson and The Army of Northern Virginia, is Called "Gods and Generals". Some claim it is the best Movie ever made about The War. I will Probably watch it again tonight, it is just very sad when "Stonewall Jackson" leaves us, in the movie.