Lee-Jackson Day 2015 In Lexington, Virginia

Strategy and Tactics by artist Mort Kunstler.
Jackson & Lee's last meeting the night of May 1, 1863
before the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.

On Saturday, January 17, I had the honor to attend the annual Lee-Jackson Day Services and Parade in Lexington, Virginia.

Lee-Jackson Day is a holiday recognized across the American South. The holiday is celebrated in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. It is known as "Confederate Heroes Day" in the State of Texas. 

The holiday was originally celebrated in Virginia in 1889 to honor the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee who was born on January 19. 1807. The holiday was put into effect during the administration of Governor Fitzhugh Lee who was a nephew of the general. In 1904 the holiday was changed to include a tribute to General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson who was born on January 21, 1824. The change was made under the administration of Governor Andrew Jackson Montague.

Lee-Jackson Day has been honored in Lexington since the late 19th century. The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), the United Confederate Veterans (UCV), and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) have sponsored events to honor Lee and Jackson in Lexington. It seems only befitting that various celebrations and events have been held to honor the birthdays of the generals in their final home and resting place: Jackson is buried in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery near the Virginia Military Institute where Jackson taught before the War Between The States (1861- 1865) and Lee is buried in a family crypt beneath Lee Memorial Chapel on the grounds of Washington and Lee University. Today the event is held near the state holiday and sponsored by the Stonewall Brigade Camp #1296 Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The following are photos taken at that event beginning with the memorial service at Jackson's grave site and ending at Washington And Lee University.  

Yours Truly Standing At General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's Grave And Family Plot.

Lieutenant General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
And General Robert E. Lee Reenactors.

Lee The General Meets Lee The Educator. 

US General Ulysses S. Grant And CSA
Lieutenant General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

Former US Representative and
Dukes Of Hazzard Star Mr. Ben "Cooter" Jones.

Other Graves Of Confederate Soldiers
Buried In Stonewall Jackson
Memorial Cemetery.

Me And Miss Susan Hathaway
Of The Virginia Flaggers.

Me And My Brother Alex. 

Preparing For The Wreath Laying Ceremony.

Jackson's Grave And Family Plot After
The Wreath Laying Ceremony.

LOAD! AIM! FIRE!

I Can Never Quite Get Them When They Shoot. Oh Well.

Me And Union General U.S. Grant reenactor.

Large Southern Cross Battle Flag.

Outstanding Shot Of Banner Honoring Lee With Battle Flag.

Salute!

Furling The Large Flag Till Next Year.

Parade Ends Near Lexington Presbyterian Church.

Banner In Honor Of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday With US Flag.

Me Posing With Flag On The Grounds Of Washington And Lee University.

Washington And Lee University

Lee Chapel - The Final Resting Place Of General Robert E. Lee.

Final Resting Place Of Lee's Horse Traveler Next To The Chapel.

Me Posing With Flag At The Chapel (Closed For Repairs).

It was a great pleasure to celebrate the lives of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson with fellow Confederate descendants and friends I know from facebook and other social media sites who traveled there from all over the American Southland and East Coast to attend.

For me honoring Lee-Jackson Day was not about celebrating the War itself, or modern-day politics. It was about honoring the everlasting memories of General's Lee and Jackson and the Confederate soldiers who fought and died serving under these two honorable men. Though I do not respect war, or the death and destruction that came with it, I was out of respect their lives, their courage in the face of overwhelming odds, and their significant role in the Southern historical heritage that I traveled so far to celebrate.