3/3/2004

The Heritage Preservation Association (HPA) fully supports the efforts put forth by Georgia House Resolution #1442. HPA played an integral part in having this resolution introduced.

HPA finds this legislation very important, considering several southern states have completely eliminated the observance of Confederate History & Heritage month.

If this resolution passes, the following would be accomplished:

April would be permanently designated as Confederate History and Heritage Month.

Currently, Georgians must wait on a proclamation by the governor or another government entity. This is usually done without much advanced notice. This resolution ensures that the good people of Georgia must not wait for this proclamation. This will help cities, counties and other municipalities have ample time to prepare for observances throughout the month of April.

Schools would be urged to commemorate Confederate History and Heritage Month.

Currently some schools in Georgia have minor and limited observations of Confederate history. This resolution gives all schools across the state a mandate to recognize and study the South's struggle for independence. The HPA already provides school teachers with information packets and we will gladly continue to do so, now that schools throughout Georgia will be observing Confederate History and Heritage Month.

A new Confederate monument will be placed on the statehouse grounds.

While there are numerous monuments and memorials throughout Georgia, currently there is no official state memorial to her Confederate soldiers. If this resolution passes, a new Confederate monument will be placed near the Gen. John B. Gordon statue in honor of Georgia's soldiers. Georgia will finally have an official monument to those who served during the War Between the States.

The 1956 Georgia flag will officially become "Georgia's Memorial Flag"

While HPA has always regarded the 1956 flag as a living memorial to Georgia's Confederate soldiers it is, unfortunately, no longer an official state symbol. This resolution would make it an official symbol once again. This measure, of course, has no bearing on HPA's continuing efforts to see that the 1956 flag is a choice for Georgia voters on the next flag referendum. Because it would be an official state symbol, it should automatically be considered an option for the official state flag.

The 1956 Georgia flag would fly over the capitol again.

Whether we, or many other Georgians like it or not, the 1956 flag has not flown over the capitol since January of 2001. This resolution sees to it that it would fly for at least 2 days a year: Robert E. Lee's birthday and Confederate Memorial Day. HPA looks forward to the day that it can once again fly over the capitol for 365 days a year and will continue the effort to make that happen.

The Heritage Preservation Association would like to thank those who have sponsored and are supporting this bill. In the atmosphere of rancor and political correctness, we believe these representatives have shown great courage in recognizing Georgia's proud Confederate past.

Hopefully, through the education this resolution will provide, Georgians of all backgrounds the ablity to learn more about Georgia's Confederate past and gain a new understanding for why Georgia took the actions it did over 140 years ago.

HPA will continue to stress the issue of educating our Southern children in the hopes that they will learn to appreciate our proud heritage.