Unfortunately, patriotic ceremonies,

cemetery work days, school programs, and other historical projects that

we work on just don't get the press coverage that one misinformed

teenager receives when he wears a Confederate T-shirt to school, and proceeds

to engage in some kind of racial situation which is then discovered by

the Atlanta, or national press.

Occasionally though we do get

a positive bit of coverage. For example, in 1995, the SCV was thanked

in an editorial in the AJC for our work in persuading a Hall County Klansman

to remove a very racist display from his front yard. Sadly, this is the

exception, not the rule.

The good news is that incidents

of this kind are very rare. We (the local SCV) have a great relationship

with our local schools, and they know that they can call on us at anytime

to help educate our students in this area. I speak for all the members

of the SCV in Fayette County in saying publicly, and in all sincerity,

that we do not want one single student, or fellow citizen in this county

to ever feel intimidated, threatened, or uncomfortable at the sight of

our flag, or any other symbol of the Confederacy.

At the same time, the writer,

and others who might agree with him or her, need to understand that the

SCV will not for one moment concede our position that our flags, T-shirts,

or any other symbols are honorable, and should, and will be flown, worn,

and displayed in schools, and all other areas and institutions in this

county when appropriate.

As our great antagonist Gen.

Sherman once said, "I like the secesh because they are brave, and

in the open." We intend to live up to his description.

Scott K. Gilbert, Jr.

Commander, Gen. Lafayette McLaws

Camp #79

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Fayetteville, Ga.