To the Editor:
After the despicable murders in Charleston, S.C. by a mentally unbalanced youth, the City Council, as it should, wanted to express its condemnation of that heinous act. The appropriate action would have been a resolution to that effect. Instead, it decided to follow the example of other communities who attacked our Confederate heritage in toto by refusing to honor native Alexandrian and internationally acclaimed Robert E. Lee as we have done for decades. What a non sequitur! Lee opposed slavery, set an example of practicing good race relations throughout his life and was honored by the U.S. Congress for his work to promote national unity and peace after the war. Throughout his lifetime, RE Lee was honored, respected and admired by all, including in the North and West, as my earlier letters have consistently noted.
Two years ago the mayor appropriately issued a proclamation honoring Alexandrians Gen. “Light-Horse” Harry Lee and his son Gen. Robert E. Lee on their birthdays, Jan. 29 and Jan. 19, for their contributions to our country. It is appropriate to do so annually, and I hope the mayor and council will do so this year and declare that our Virginia and U.S. flags are flown in his honor. He served under both long and well.
Refusing to recognize and honor Lee’s contributions is a stunning error which the council should rectify immediately. Council should set a worthy example for the rest of the country, not follow others’ hasty and mistaken actions taken in the heat of emotion.
As “Mercy Street” airs starting Jan. 17, many people will be interested in how Alexandria treats its history. Lee loved Alexandria; I hope the council will treat his memory and contributions with the honor he so richly deserves.
Besides issuing a proclamation and flying our flags in his memory as noted above, I recommend in future years that the city sponsor an annual Lee/Confederate history symposium, as well as essay and poster competitions in our schools, and an oratorical contest. The city also needs a statue of this Virginia, American and international hero in a prominent place. Lee, a brilliant student (and competent artist), improved the curriculums as head of both West Point and Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), so a memorial associated with education would be very appropriate. Because many people mistakenly believe slavery — and nothing else — caused the war, we should correct that erroneous narrative in widely used history books to provide a full and accurate account, starting with the 1777 adoption of the Articles of Confederation and the 1787 adoption of the Constitution which established our federal republic.
Ellen Latane Tabb
Alexandria