To those of us who remember our ancestors in April of each year that fought in the War Between the States from Georgia, we take pride in the many of them who died in that war for their country, which at that time was the Confederate States of America. After the war ended, and the states rejoined the Union and the United States became whole once more the northern states and southern states went through a transition period known as Reconstruction. After all, that was said and done by the time President McKinley was in office he extended a hand to those who had fought in that war from the south and began a true healing process. The southern veterans were granted pensions that were paid by the United States Government. The US government continued over the years to make it so that graves could be marked with military markers for the southern veterans. This has been handled through the Veterans Administration Office. Then, by the 1950's Congress recognized the veterans of the south as being veterans of America just as the Union veterans. Many presidents since McKinley have paid homage to the veterans who fought for the Confederacy. That is why many places still remember April as Confederate History Month and as Confederate Memorial Day. Georgia stopped recognizing it as a holiday because of the shooting at the African-American Church in Charleston, S.C. by a demented young man with hate in his heart. Georgia rode the tide of hate against everything confederate across the south and were politically correct to appease those who hate anything Confederate. But to those who still care about their ancestors, they still recognize them today. Many are recognized on the traditional Memorial Day in May just as all other American troops are recognized that died in service to their nation. People need to start leaving hate aside and study the true history of those who fought in that war against one another who were friends before the war and were friends afterward. Especially, the leaders from both sides. The people of today might learn a great lesson from them as they extended hands of friendship to one another.
