Early in the day on Thursday, we received word that severe storms were expected in Danville around 4:00 p.m., so we made the decision to raise the flag as soon as the pole was set, and canceled the planned 5:00 p.m. ceremony.
This turned out to be a providential decision, as council chambers had already started to fill when we arrived at 4:30. By 5:30, all seats were taken, and the Fire Marshall began turning people away who wanted to attend. Over 100 people, most of whom were Confederate supporters, were left to stand outside during the proceedings.
We knew that the flag we had just raised was in a great spot…high visibility and located at the main entrance of town…but imagine our surprise and joy when we arrived and discovered that the flag is visible from City Hall. This is the view out of the City Manager’s window!
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We were the overwhelming majority in council chambers, and most of hose who addressed City Council were opposed to the ordinance that would officially ban ALL flags from city owned flag poles EXCEPT the US Flag, Virginia State Flag, Danville City Flag, and US POW/MIA flag, but was obviously specifically proposed to force the removal of the Third National flag from the Confederate Memorial from the grounds of the Sutherlin Mansion. The meeting started promptly at 7:00 and by the time council finished discussing the ordinance, we understood why. One member of council actually admitted that it really didn’t even matter what the citizens thought on the matter, or had to say, because this deal had been brokered in “work sessions” and was already decided.
We listened as council members called for “peace and unity” following the vote “no matter what was decided” when, in actuality, they had already decided to vote to remove the flag. Apparently, even after seeing the fallout that has occurred across the South after similar measures, these men actually still believe that appeasing the demands of these people will lead to “peace and unity”. In fact, if they had been paying attention, they would know that pandering to the PC crowd not only leads to increased unrest and strife, it is NEVER effective, as these folks are NEVER satisfied with whatever it is that is handed to them. Minutes after the vote, SCLC representative Avon Keen, the man who has been complaining about the flag loudly and agitating in Danville for years, made this perfectly clear in his statement when he bragged that this flag was just “one of the dominoes which had to fall,” and that their “battle has not concluded.”
I often speak of the fact that there are very few elected officials left with any kind of backbone ANYWHERE in the South. Last night, we found two of them in Danville, VA. These men stood up to the bully politics that apparently caused others to cave and turn their backs on their history, their heritage, and the citizens of Danville who elected them. They fought to the end, knowing full well their stand would be unpopular with their colleagues and the militant leftists pushing the agenda of Confederate Cleansing. God bless councilmen Buddy Rawley and Fred Shanks. PLEASE take a moment to thank them for their support and courageous stand!
http://www.danville-va.gov/877/Buddy-Rawley
http://www.danville-va.gov/878/Fred-O-Shanks-III
After the vote, Representative Shanks asked the Mayor if the flag was going to be removed “as discussed” in the closed work sessions. Mayor Saunders seemed highly agitated, and claimed that he knew nothing about the removal and refused to answer the question.
In fact, the bucket truck was already on site, waiting for the official result which was already decided long before the roll vote was called, and the flag was cut down, the monument desecrated, and the honor of our ancestors SPAT UPON by order of City Council within minutes of the vote. Apparently, Mayor Saunders expected us to believe that those police officers acted on their own volition, and that council had no idea it was going to happen.
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As to the turncoats who decided to vote for this ordinance, after pledging to support Confederate history and heritage in Danville, we are left only to wonder what they were promised for their vote…and if it was worth selling their soul…
While it was painful to sit and watch the proceedings, and more hurtful than I can describe to ride down to the Sutherlin Mansion afterwards and find the empty pole, those of us who have been engaged in this war that is raging in Danville are far from discouraged.
Yesterday, we raised the first Roadside Memorial Battle Flag in Danville, Va.
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The actions of the City Council, in fact, served to trade one 3×5 Third National, tucked away in a quiet part of town, for ONE (so far) massive battle flag in a prominent location on a major highway. If this was the ONLY thing accomplished yesterday, we would have plenty to celebrate, but there is much, much more…
*A lawsuit has already been prepared and will be filed immediately, challenging the flag removal, which obviously violates State Law.
*A 501C4 has been formed for the express purpose of making sure the turncoats on Danville City Council who voted for this ordinance are not re-elected next spring.
*The Confederate Memorial Association in Danville has been re-activated, and will be organizing to further pursue historical, legal and legislative action.
*The Va Flaggers have over ½ dozen flag sites in Danville already under construction, with new calls coming in every day from landowners wanting to install flags in response to this action.
*Efforts to purchase the Sutherlin Mansion and return it to private hands that will best honor and protect it will be stepped up, with new offers coming in the next few weeks.
And in the aftermath…sweet irony. The ordinance that was designed to remove the flag at Sutherlin Mansion…
…also brought down the national flags from the display of flags of countries doing business in Danville…
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I wonder if we can talk to city officials about taking these poles off of their hands, now that they are no longer needed? We will put them to very good use! ;)?
As it has in communities across the South, this unnecessary and divisive action by the Danville City Council has served to “awaken the sleeping giant…and fill him with a terrible resolve”. We are not only confident that the flag WILL be returned to its rightful place at Sutherlin Mansion, but believe that the end result will be that Danville will be even more Confederate than ever before.
This flag installed yesterday is the first of several scheduled for installation in Danville, and the eighth Roadside Memorial Battle Flag installed in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the Virginia Flaggers since the fall of 2013, made possible by generous gifts and support from folks across the country. We would like to especially thank the many UDC, SCV, OCR, Mechanized Cavalry, and private citizens in Danville who have stepped up to help us with the flag projects, and with whom we have worked closely and successfully over these past months in Danville.
“For every flag removed, a thousand more will rise to take its place”
Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday, September 10th: Susan is scheduled to speak at the September meeting of the Ivy Ritchie Camp #1744, SCV, Albermarle NC. 6:30 p.m. Jay’s Seafood Restaurant, 40439 Stony Gap Rd, Albermarle, NC 28001
Sunday, September 27th: SAVE THE DATE! Va Flaggers FOURTH Anniversary Celebration Picnic/Auction, Mechanicsville Moose Lodge 3:00 p.m. More details to follow.
Tuesday, November 3rd: Susan will be speaking at the November meeting of the Campbell Guards, SCV Camp #2117, 7:00 p.m., Historic Courthouse, Rustburg.
Monday, November 16th: Susan has accepted an invitation at the November meeting of the Black River Tigers Camp #2152, Angier, NC. 6:30 p.m., Simonz Restaurant.
Saturday, December 12th: Susan will be speaking at the Christmas Dinner of the John Ingraham Camp #1977, Chickamauga, GA. More details to follow.
Saturday, January 9th: Susan will be speaking at the Lee-Jackson Banquet of the Camp Moses Wood #125, SCV, Gafney, South Carolina, 6:00 p.m., Cherokee Historic and Preservation Society Museum , 301 College Drive.
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