Today work will begin to remove the final Confederate statue still standing within Richmond, Virginia’s city limits. The statue, honoring Confederate General A.P.
Some have called for the removal of the statue of my great-grandfather, Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, in Capitol Square in Richmond. But although he was a physician to the Army of N. Virginia, and Stonewall Jackson's personal surgeon, he also served the city of Richmond for many years after the war as a doctor and founder of schools and hospitals, and was president of the American Medical Assoc. I just found out that his name was removed last week from the VA Hospital--no surprise there. About time.
His story is indeed complicated, but for better or for worse, this is exactly what most people are not willing or interested in considering right now when it comes to monuments.
Ugh! A. P. Hill is emblazoned in my memory, not because I know the name from my studies, but because my mother's family is from southern Virginia. As a child, I remember riding on I-95 during trips to visit my grandparents and seeing the signs for the U.S. Army Fort A. P. Hill training center. I'm pretty sure, though not 100% certain, that facility is still in use. A.P. Hill's name will still be memorialized in Virginia, statue or not.
The local United Confederate Veterans Camp in Petersburg was named in honor of A.P. Hill. Yes, the facility is still in use, but the name of the base is slated to change as are the the rest of those that honor Confederate leaders.
Some have called for the removal of the statue of my great-grandfather, Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, in Capitol Square in Richmond. But although he was a physician to the Army of N. Virginia, and Stonewall Jackson's personal surgeon, he also served the city of Richmond for many years after the war as a doctor and founder of schools and hospitals, and was president of the American Medical Assoc. I just found out that his name was removed last week from the VA Hospital--no surprise there. About time.
His story is indeed complicated, but for better or for worse, this is exactly what most people are not willing or interested in considering right now when it comes to monuments.
No new information, but interesting that the Smithsonian Magazine reported on it: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/richmond-removes-its-last-city-owned-confederate-monument-180981289/
The last line, man. That was definitely a good shot at the Confederate memorial movement. Love it!
Glad you approve. Thanks for reading, Conor.
Down with the traitors, and up with the flag!
While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
Ugh! A. P. Hill is emblazoned in my memory, not because I know the name from my studies, but because my mother's family is from southern Virginia. As a child, I remember riding on I-95 during trips to visit my grandparents and seeing the signs for the U.S. Army Fort A. P. Hill training center. I'm pretty sure, though not 100% certain, that facility is still in use. A.P. Hill's name will still be memorialized in Virginia, statue or not.
The home where he grew up is on Main Street in my hometown of Culpeper, so no avoiding him growing up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._Hill_Boyhood_Home But there’s now video of the statue being removed!!!
That must feel somewhat surreal.
When I was growing up, he was our own hero. Now I know better, he was a traitor to the oath he took at West Point, a traitor to his country.
Of course, that makes perfect sense. When we know better, we do better, right? That's the good part about continuous learning.
The local United Confederate Veterans Camp in Petersburg was named in honor of A.P. Hill. Yes, the facility is still in use, but the name of the base is slated to change as are the the rest of those that honor Confederate leaders.
Hurrah!!!