wtvr has 3-minute story on the ongoing bid by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to take over maintenance at Oakwood Cemetery. The story is a good look at both the finiancial savings for the city and the issues of how this might play out in “a predominantly African-American community”.
23 comments
It would not be quite as divisive if the SVC offered to maintain the whole cemetary. However, I do realize that that would be a much larger endeavor, but would help bring out a solution on this sensitive issue.
I can’t play the video for some reason.
Question: Are we sure they’ve only offered to care for the Confederate Section? I’ve gone back to try to find a reference to that and can’t find anything saying that.
The video is maybe more readily on the front page of the wtvr site, at the top right.
Yes, I am sure. It even says so in the video (and previous news stories). I had trouble playing it, too. Until I went the front page of the site and it was miraculously playing on the home page.
OK. (I think my firewall blocks the video.) I tend to think that the City shouldn’t be looking proverbial gift horses in the mouth, but I agree that the offer to take care of only part of it is a touchy issue.
Rev. McQuinn actually had a fair and balanced comment. She seems to be sensitive to both sides understanding the beliefs of their contributions during that era, and the significance of money saved by the City over time. She doesn’t seem to have a problem with it as long as it doesn’t glorify the cause. Sounds like it could be worked out
I have to agree with Rev. McQuinn also. Let’s face it, the Civil War is still a raw issue for many people. While many of us have ancestors that died in the War and we certainly want their resting place treated with dignity. There also many whose ancestors were held in slavery until the end of that same War.
And we have to recognize that many of the symbols of the Civil War have also been used by racist individuals and groups to promote their cause.
While I would not want to visit a Civil War cemetary in poor condition. I would not wish for an African-American family to have to travel through a site -that glorifies a cause that possibly would have kept them enslaved to this day- to bury a loved one in Oakwood Cemetary.
Rev. McQuinn is correct that the City should be cautious and sensitive on this issue. The cost savings to the City looks great on the surface, but the City should maintain some control over the plans for renovating the Confederate section of the cemetary.
That being said, I think there is hope that a plan can be worked out that will both honor the past and move toward a more peaceful and honorable future.
maybe the scv should get out of the picture and the city should take care of the city cemetary. of course it is easier to create a debate on race than to keep the grass cut. so figure the debate will go on and nobody will cut the grass. or maybe those that want to demonize dead confederates should get off their butt and cut the grass.
Richmond really needs to figure out a way to not always brush the Civil War under the rug as some sort of collective embarassment. Frankly, it was the time when this City was the center of history, whether for good or ill. At some point we are going to have to start accepting and embracing this. I don’t know how we do this considering the complexity of the many issues, especially the race issue, but we are really missing out on something by treating it like it’s a cancer. Even the slavery museum passed us by. What’s up with that.
Why doesn’t the city take care of the upkeep for the cemetery, anyway? Here’s what is says in the city code:
Sec. 22-2. “Management and control.
The control and management of the city’s cemeteries is vested in the director, and it shall be the director’s duty to manage, operate and maintain the city’s cemeteries.”
As listed in Definitions: “Director means the director of parks, recreation and community facilities and duly authorized representatives.”
I called the Cemetery Administration Office and found out we have a cemeteries manager, Wayne Edwards. However he was available to speak at the time.
Oops, I meant “was NOT available”
I don’t think people want to “demonize dead confederates” but this is a sensitive issue, and rightly so. That’s rather insensitive, isn’t it? McQuinn’s measure response is more appropriate.
To draw a (hypothetical) comparison, what would public opinion be if a group wanted to maintain a memorial for dead Nazi soldiers in a pre-dominantly Jewish cemetery located in pre-dominantly Jewish neighborhood, in which many of occupants were descendents of Holocaust survivors?
nadine, I thought of a similar analogy. In Europe, there are several examples of German cemeteries withing shouting distance of US cemeteries (and other allied troops). In each case that I am aware of, the German cemeteries are well-kept, but not immaculate like, for example, the US cemeteries. My sense from having been to these places is that the German cemeteries’ austere but dignified surroundings communicated a sense of respect for life, without glorifying a cause. Certainly, the sensitivities of an invaded country are different than the sensitivities of an opporessed (and enslaved) minority but there are definitely common threads. Personally, I’d like to see a similar treatment here.
The analogy to the Jews and Nazis is academically off base.
Nazis fought to conquer. I don’t think that’s why the people in the cemetary fought.
But while the reason for the Civil War was slavery, most Southerners actually fought because they thought they were defending their homes. The reasons people fight in a war and the reasons for that war are usually not the same things. This is pretty basic stuff.
That said, I’ll also grant that hate groups have taken the symbols of the south and used them for very great wrongs. I’d go so far as to say the symbols of the south are more soiled by 20th century hate groups than by that war.
I think the conversation should be about reconciliation, as well as race. But conversations about race are difficult but also long overdue. Sometimes two people see things differently, and until a civil, open-minded, open-hearted conversation takes place, nothing changes.
I believe that the Sons of Confederate Veterans want to do the right thing for their ancestors. I don’t think anyone wants to deny them that opportunity.
I also believe it can be done in a way that is sensitive to the other folks that live and are buried nearby, their families and those to be buried there in the future. But it is going to take a conversation. A brave conversation that includes both race and reconciliation.
i guess i have just not had the sensitivity training some others have had. i am sensitive to paying taxes and getting crummy results. the city needs to cut their own grass, just like they demand of the taxpayers. get the city to cut the grass and i will consider whatever sensitivity training needed.
that’s a great point that the city demands that property owners cut their own grass and the City needs to do the same, but I believe it is more than cutting grass. They also want to add tombstones with names, along with putting up a fence, and probably other maintenance.
I also agree, it does need to be handled in a sensitive manner, but as McQuinn said, it is part of history and should be embraced.
cut the grass and maintain the cemetery first and embrace history later. fact is that scv numbers are diminishing. how long will they be around to cut the grass? and if not forever will the city to refuse to cut the grass and blame the confederates. there are already enough monuments in town and adding fences just increases maintenance costs.
There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around and the SCV are not entirely the aggrieved party. Several years ago, Chicora Foundation (we are historians and stone conservators) received a contract to reset many of the Confederate markers, which we did with the same care and dignity we would show any cemetery and those buried there. We, however, were criticized by the SCV because we do not share their belief in “southern heritage.†From my perspective some of their members are far more interested in politics (and you sharing their beliefs) than they are in the care of the cemetery.
We also made a variety of recommendations concerning the repair of markers – both Union and Confederate (yes, there are a few Union markers in the cemetery). Our recommendations were never even acknowledged and, to the best of my knowledge, they were never acted on. Certainly, we were never asked back by the state, city, or SCV.
I am not aware than any SCV member is a stone conservator and thus qualified to make repairs. Poor repairs are poor repairs, whether made by the City or the SCV.
michael trinkley, i have an old house with stone foundation and chimney bases that need some help. if you are in that line of work and have an interest please let me know.
Bill,
If it isn’t something we do, I’ll be happy to refer you to an appropriate mason with historic preservation experience. Contact me directly through our web site.
Best,
Mike
My gg/grandfather is buried (somewhere) at Oakwood. He was a soldier from Ga and so lies far from his home.
I want his grave decently marked! Would you not want this for your loved ones or for yourself?
The City of Richmond will not even answer the phone or return a call.
The SCV, by contrast, contacted a leading Civil War historian to try to help me.
Why make this a political issue?? It’s only a cemetery, not the statehouse. Let the people who are most interested and ready to help take the lead.
I am indebted to the SCV.
Paul left a note regarding his Georgia ancestor buried at Oakwood and I would like to help if I can. I have spent 7 years trying to identify who is buried at the cemetery and to date have over 11000 names, 2605 from Georgia, my list is the most extensive and accurate anywhere. I dont get into the arguement of who is doing what out there my goal is to make a permament record of the burails. While I believe there is an effort to eliminate all things Confederate they will never be able to eliminate the records. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at Johnnyh56@yahoo.com