A MESSAGE FROM THE VIRGINIA DIVISION PRESIDENT ON THE FLAG SALUTE
[Posted January 19, 2002]A few days ago I asked Virginia Daughters to write to their delegates expressing their concerns about the recent insult offered to the Salute to the Flag of Virginia and to its author, Mrs. T.E. (Cassye) Gravely, a member of Virginia Division UDC. As they always do, our members have responded magnificently by sending letters to their delegates and to the editors of local and regional newspapers.
We are now aware that some wish to write a new Salute! If any Daughters have not yet sent their letters, I urge them to do so now and to include a statement about this most recent development. If they have already sent letters, I would ask that they take pen in hand once again and let their delegates know how they feel about the possibility that the Salute may be rewritten.
It is my hope that we will be joined in this effort by anyone who has an interest in seeing that "political correctness" is not allowed to selectively destroy pieces of the history that we share, not just as Virginians but also as citizens of a country that has its very roots in the red clay of Virginia and that has benefitted so much from the contributions of her sons and daughters through the ages.
My thanks go out to Virginia's Daughters for their concern and for taking the time to stand up for what they believe in! To those who would stand with us, I offer my appreciation, my admiration, and my most heartfelt thanks.
Sam (Mrs. John W.) Lougheed
President, Virginia Division UDC
The letters that Mrs. Lougheed sent are posted below.
Dear Mr. Cole,
As you can see from the e-mail below, I sent remarks to you on January 16th regarding the Salute to the Flag of Virginia. Since that time I have read that some members of the House of Delegates want to change the words to the beautiful Salute!!!
Please sir, in all honesty, can you actually not see that anyone and everything that is not "their way" is being wiped from the face of this Earth? As quoted from the World Book encyclopedia "Virginia is perhaps the most historic of all 50 states. Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England. Virginia is also known as the 'Old Dominion'. King Charles II gave it this name because it remained loyal to the crown during the English Civil War of the mid-1600's. Virginia has the nickname 'Mother of Presidents' because eight U.S. Presidents were born here. Virginia also has the nickname 'Mother of States'. - All or part of eight other states were formed from western territory once claimed by Virginia. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin." Did not Cassye Gravely pen her beautiful poem/salute with these words in mind and not some "hidden" meaning?
We are not cookie-cutter images of one another. The United States is a Nation filled with people from all walks of life - with special and different backgrounds. That's part of what makes us interesting to each other. What a dull world this would be if we were all alike! But, sadly it is a reason for some to think others are not as worthy.
I pray you will see that this newest twist of hurt to Virginians with a Southern heritage, is stopped!
Sincerely,
Samba S. Lougheed
Dear Mr. Cole,
I am writing you concerning the furor over the Salute to the Flag of Virginia that is simmering throughout the Legislature and the Commonwealth. I am requesting that you lend your support to keeping this beautiful Salute as a part of the opening ritual in the Assembly.
I feel I must say as a fellow Virginian, that the words penned so many years ago by Mrs. T. E. Gravely are warm, loving, and heartfelt. I'm sure they were written with a deep love in her heart for her native state and the men and women who gave so much to defend our rights and freedoms, from Colonial times to the present and into the future. The fact that many of our Nation's Presidents were Virginians most likely came to her mind as well. They are words of patriotism and love.
Please take a moment to consider the fact that if a Virginian with a Confederate ancestor (and there are many of us) discovered a cure for cancer, aids or another life-threatening illness, would that cure be discarded on the grounds of who his or her ancestor was? What of the men and women with these same Confederate ancestors who gave their lives for the United States of America? After the tragic terrorism that occurred on September 11th, I would hope and pray that we would truly be "United" - sadly it appears we are not, even in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
It is truly a sad day when the fact that one's ancestor was a Confederate soldier prohibits their heartfelt works, no matter how beautiful and meaningful the words, from being uttered by the lips of our own Virginia House of Delegates!
"I salute the Flag of Virginia with patriotic devotion to the 'Mother of States and Statesmen' which is represents, the 'Old Dominion,' where liberty and independence were born."
Sincerely,
Samba S. Lougheed
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