A community came together on Memorial Day to honor those who died in the darkest period of our national history during the civil war.
On Monday (5/29) county and city leaders along with hundreds of on lookers gathered at the Brandenburg Riverfront Park to rededicate the recently relocated Confederate Monument that stood in west Louisville 122 years and now stands on the bank of the Ohio River in a river town with ample civil war history. The monument was relocated to Brandenburg site in December 2016.
The hour long ceremony was organized by a seven member committee made up of local residents and community advisors which had a goal of providing an appropriate welcome to the historic monument. Speakers included State Senator Steve Meredith, Dr. Tom Sabetta, Lieutenant Commander, Kentucky Division of the Sons of the Confederacy; Susan McCrobie, Historian & Past President of Kentucky United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Paul Gramling, Jr. Lieutenant Commander-in-Chief National Headquarters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Each spoke about the significance of those who fought in the civil war and how the monument is similar to a tombstone and is placed for modern society and generations to learn from the historic conflict. The monument has drawn several divided viewpoints over years which led to the City of Louisville to remove the statue for the interests of the University of Louisville.
The effort to lobby to preserve the historical monument was a several month process and Louisville officials awarded the request from Brandenburg after reviewing the town’s historical role in the civil war. Meade County Judge Executive Gerry Lynn and Brandenburg Mayor Ronnie Joyner said the re-dedication of the monument was fitting on Memorial Day since the purpose of the monument was to honor and remember the war dead not the politics of the civil war.
A small number of peaceful protesters attended the ceremony in an attempt to rally local residents against the monument. In information sheets from the unidentified group of demonstrators, Rae Strobel is opposed to the monument because she views it as a symbol to glorify racial inequality. She also calls on the community to accurately remember history. Demonstrators want to start a community dialogue about diversity and inclusiveness in Brandenburg. In their provided facts, they believe they represent five to ten local residents who disagree with the monument’s relocation but are afraid to speak their voice for fear of being ignored or targeted with violence.
The Confederate Monument is the recent addition to an outdoor history museum which has smaller bronze statues and plaques which represent the county’s ancestors as native Americans, and involvement in the Underground Railroad, along with Morgan’s Raid. Local leaders believe that the monument will enhance tourism in the county as it relates to a local civil war re-enactment held biannually in the park.
You may watch the entire dedication ceremony in our “On Demand” section.
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