GA-Civil war museum closes rather than comply with demand to remove Con. flags

[Anti Federalist]

Nash Farm Battlefield

https://www.facebook.com/NashFarmBat...08056289213768

Public Statement from the Board of Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc.

May 23, 2017

The Board of the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. is sad to announce that the museum, located on Nash Farm Battlefield, which was funded and maintained by our group, will close effective June 1, 2017. The main reason is that the current District 2 Commissioner, Dee Clemmons, has requested that ALL Confederate flags be removed from the museum, in addition to the gift shop, in an effort not to offend anyone.

For anyone who studies the American Civil War, or War Between the States, they realize there were two parties that fought in this war. We have always prided ourselves with being an unbiased museum that told the entire story of the battles that took place on this property, as well as being a voice of the people in Henry County and Georgia during this time. These stories were told mainly through primary sources, sometimes secondary, but never tertiary sources. To exclude any Confederate flag would mean the historical value has been taken from our exhibits, and a fair interpretation could not be presented to each guest. Confederate flags were on this hallowed ground, as were the Union flags. To remove either of them would be a dishonor.

Additionally, Commissioner Clemmons stated that this property, which the county spent in excess of $8 million dollars, has no historical significance per the current board. Interestingly, the Department of Interior has recognized this property as core battlefield and there is a primary source where a request is made that the government pay retribution for the damage to the property during the battle. This is clear proof of the historical basis of this property; yet, more could be provided if necessary. This property has the blood of Union and Confederate soldiers in the soil and needs to be preserved as the battlefield that it is.

The Board of the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. complied when Commissioner Clemmons requested, soon after her taking office, that the entrenchments be removed from the property.

When she had the Second National Confederate Flag removed from the flag pole where it has been flying since Henry County purchased the property, again we complied and did not create a disturbance in hopes that the museum would be left alone.

The final order from Commissioner Clemmons is one that we cannot and will not comply with. We were told that we are at the “pleasure of the (Henry County) Commission”. Her directive is something we cannot comply with in good consciences.

To date, the museum, in its seven years of operation, has seen visitors from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries. Heritage tourism dollars have added money to the tax base in Henry and Clayton Counties, helping to fund many projects, including roads and schools. Prior to the recession, it was not uncommon to see over 2,000 students in a year; however, the yearly school day now has just shy of 500 students who visit not only the museum, but many different hands on stations to help to engage every student. Never have we had a teacher or student complain about the variety of flags or uniforms being presented in these educational settings. In fact, most teachers applaud our efforts to help them in the classroom.

The Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. has not only been active on an educational aspect, but has helped Henry County in many ways to manage this beautiful battlefield. We have worked with the Boy Scouts, Eagles Scouts, the Audubon Society, Master Gardeners, Civil War Trust, and other community groups. Our volunteers have put up split rail fencing, painted, cleared barbed wire, mowed, graded roads, picked up debris, fixed many “broken” things around the property, and so much more. Our mission was to assist Henry County, not only with the historical aspect of the property, but to make this a property the entire community could be proud of.

To be honest, majority of the people in District 2 are proud of Nash Farm Battlefield.

There will be many who will think the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. should have stood up to this censorship. Currently, the museum operates out of the old Nash farmhouse, which is owned by Henry County, and all utilities are paid by the county. The relics that were displayed, with the exception of a small amount that Henry County owns, were on loan to our group.

When our key volunteer and donor made the decision to pull his relics, the Board had no other decision than to close the museum.

We could have kept the doors open sporadically and showed beautiful display cases that were empty. When you engage in a conflict, your goal is to gain ground. The Board felt the only decision we had was to close the museum. This has not been an easy decision as many of our volunteers have donated much time, money, sweat, and tears to this property. The Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield was created after the Steering Committee was dissolved by the Henry County Board of Commissioners over 10 years ago. That is over a decade of work that some of our volunteers have contributed to this property.

As a Board, we ask that you contact not only Commissioner Clemmons, but also all the other Henry County Board of Commissioners, to let them know how you feel about the current political climate that affected the closing of Nash Farm Battlefield Museum. It is important that you voice your opinion to these politicians so they know there is public support for the historical aspect of this property.

Thank you to all the groups and individuals who have supported Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. over the years. Our volunteers have been honored to work to preserve history and work diligently to improve the community. We can only hope that this property and its history will be sustained for future generations.

Respectfully Submitted by the Board of Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc.

[Origanalist]

This $#@! is out of control. It won't be long before you will be thrown in jail for possessing anything to do with the Confederacy at this rate. It's a witch hunt, a Stalinist purge.

[Anti Federalist]

This $#@! is out of control. It won't be long before you will be thrown in jail for possessing anything to do with the Confederacy at this rate. It's a witch hunt, a Stalinist purge.

Yes, it is.

Yes, you will.

Yes, it is.

And this is just the opening salvo...wait till you see what's next to become Un-persons and Un-things.

[tod evans]

How sad rolling up on Memorial Day weekend.

[phill4paul]

SMDH.

[oyarde]

I wonder who the private donor is who owned all the artifacts ? He may just choose to privately display it and cut the retard govt out . I would and ea yr I would put an ad in the local paper with the estimated amount of revenue the local govt lost and list all of the council members who helped make it happen .

[Wooden Indian]

1. They shouldn't have complied the first two times.

2. Good for them for finally saying no.

3. Not a single $#@! will be given by most.

[phill4paul]

1. They shouldn't have complied the first two times.

They felt they could gain future reprieve by giving into the $#@!s. It just doesn't work that way.

[phill4paul]

Nash Farm Battlefield
1 hr ·
Statement by Cassie Barrow, Co-Founder of Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc. and Past President

There are many distortions of the truth that seem to be floating around social media and the press as to what actually transpired between Henry County District 2 Commissioner Dee Clemmons and the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc.

To help clarify, I think it is now imperative I share what Commissioner Clemmons ordered on May 13, 2017 while a guest at an awards ceremony the Georgia Civil War Commission was hosting inside the museum. As I am the co-founder and past president of the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield, Inc., I was responsible for making sure Commissioner Clemmons was welcomed and introduced to the various people visiting the museum that day. Throughout the afternoon, Commissioner Clemmons made a point to sequester me from the group to discuss matters pertaining to the battlefield and museum.

It was during these times that she told me that all Confederate flags INSIDE the museum must be removed because they could be offensive to a child or adult.

While she stated that all Confederate flags must be removed from inside the museum, the one we had extensive dialogue about was the Georgia Military Institute Flag (replica), which was a Second National Confederate flag with the battle accolades painted on it. This flag was displayed in what we called the Children’s Room, which is an area where the history about the hardships of the children, both boys and girls, and Union and Confederate, during this time was told.

Located in this particular room was not only dress up clothes for children who visited the museum to play with, but images of boys, Union and Confederate, who fought. There was a library where children could read about Georgia history in general. I explained to Commissioner Clemmons about the cadets, some as young as 14, that fought in the Battle of Resaca, in addition to other battles in Georgia, stating that since this unit of boys was from Georgia, their story was appropriate for the room. She told me that the historical aspect did not matter, but that the flag was offensive and had to be removed from inside the museum.

As stated previously, Commissioner Clemmons went on to say that all the Confederate flags that she had seen in the museum could not be displayed in a historical setting as they were because of their offence to many. This issue has nothing to do with the Confederate Second National Flag she had removed from the flag pole several months ago, but is a distinct separate event.

During our discussions, she also stated that the word “battlefield” should not be associated with the property because there was no battle that was fought on the property. She said that the name of the location would be changed, and the sign that Henry County Parks and Recs placed at the time the battlefield was purchased would be replaced with “Nash Farm Park”. This is the biggest concern in all of this debacle. Henry County used tax payers’ money to purchase this property through eminent domain over 10 years ago because of its historical significance, not because it was a beautiful vista and green space. To eliminate the word battlefield and take away the history behind this property, the county and state stand to lose a battlefield, whose pristine condition rivals that of any National Battlefield.

This rhetoric is dangerous and sets a precedent that property that was set aside as historic can be changed at the whim of a political figure with an agenda. This is the main story and we should not lose focus of that. The current Henry County Board of Commissioners needs to take a stand and recognize the 204 acres as a battlefield where Union and Confederate soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice.

In order for this to happen, everyone who is enraged about a public official trying to change the historical context inside a museum, needs to respectfully contact every Henry County Commissioner. Additionally, contact your state legislator and ask if he/she will agree it is a battlefield and needs to be preserved as such.

Respectfully Submitted by Cassie Barrow. For additional comments or clarification, call 7704684313.

https://www.facebook.com/NashFarmBat...09478505738213

[DamianTV]

... all Confederate flags INSIDE the museum must be removed because they could be offensive to a child or adult...

Policy and Edicts all apparently have absolute precedence and the Bill of Rights does not exist.

---

For the record, the "Confederate Flag" is the Virginia State Battle Flag.

[Dr.3D]

Since when doe a person have a right, not to be offended?

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

These were exactly the same people who said that flags belong in a museum. Well, a lot of the flags were moved to museums, but that was not good enough.

A couple excerpts from a petition to stop Dee Clemmons (which, I guess, is also now history):

Additionally, Commissioner Clemons stated that this property, which the county spent in excess of $8 million dollars, has no historical significance per the current board. Interestingly, the Department of Interior has recognized this property as core battlefield...


To date, the museum, in its seven years of operation, has seen visitors from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries. Heritage tourism dollars have added money to the tax base in Henry and Clayton Counties, helping to fund many projects, including roads and schools. Prior to the recession, it was not uncommon to see over 2,000 students in a year; however, the yearly school day now has just shy of 500 students who visit not only the museum, but many different hands on stations to help to engage every student. Never have we had a teacher or student complain about the variety of flags or uniforms being presented in these educational settings. In fact, most teachers applaud our efforts to help them in the classroom.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/924/6...-clemmons-now/

[Anti Federalist]

These were exactly the same people who said that flags belong in a museum. Well, a lot of the flags were moved to museums, but that was not good enough.

It's never good enough, they never stop, they never give up.

There is no such thing as compromise, there is no such thing as "strategic retreat" with these people.

The only group that has understood that from day one are the gun rights people.

In spite of setbacks and Judas goats and attempts at compromise, for the most part, the gun rights front has been unified and on the offensive for 50 years now.

And has been successful. Thirty five years ago, there was serious talk of a federal ban on all handguns. Now there is serious talk on national concealed carry, just for example.

If you don't have the strength of your convictions to hit back twice as hard every time the cultural Marxists and progressives go on the offensive, you're gonna lose.

[phill4paul]

bump

[shakey1]

The removal of confederate 'contraband' fixes nothing.



oh-oh... I dun it now.

[Dr.3D]

The removal of confederate 'contraband' fixes nothing.



oh-oh... I dun it now.

I can beat that....

[tod evans]

[Occam's Banana]

bump

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