Charlottesville

[Darrell]

(08-19-2017 08:17 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I still want to know how these individual state and local leaders are getting away with ignoring U..S. laws? Kind of reminds me of the Winter of Secession and the debate as to whether states had the right to break away from the Union...

Laurie,

My understanding is that the federal law previously cited (Public Law 85-425) has nothing to do with protecting Confederate monuments and memorials. Rather, it provided for "pensions to widows of veterans who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War."

It also provided for Confederate veterans to receive "a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have been applicable to such person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, if his service in such forces had been service in the military or naval service of the United States."

The latter provision was largely symbolic as there was purportedly only one Confederate veteran still living at the time the legislation was enacted, Walter Washington Green Williams (and his claim to having worn the grey is highly suspect).

http://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/85/425.pdf

---

Speaking of Civil War pensions, apparently there is one individual still receiving this federal benefit based on her father's service. And, interestedly, he fought on both sides of The Late Unpleasantness, originally enlisting in the Confederate army in 1862, but later deserting to join the Union.

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201...shot-fired