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| Mission Accomplished....+140 Years | |
| 2004-04-16 | |
| ..Hoping I've got this in the right place because of the screaming and hollering over the affair. I'll be there tomorrow, if anyone likes I'll post a report. Severely EFL'd, BTW... Tomorrow - April 17 - the remains of the crew of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley will be buried with full military honors in Charleston, S.C.'s Magnolia Cemetery. It is being billed as the last funeral of the American Civil War. The ceremony —including horse-drawn caissons bearing the remains — is slated to follow a four-and-a-half mile procession from Charleston's historic South Battery to the cemetery. There, 50 artillery pieces will fire a salute, and U.S. and Confederate flags will fly overhead. Newspapers are predicting a turnout of 30,000-50,000 people, including honor guards, Northern and Southern military re-enactors, bagpipers from the Citadel (the South Carolina Military College), a brass band from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), veterans of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet serving as pallbearers, reporters from around the world, and throngs of curiosity seekers. I am hearing from some reenactors that the attendance is being underplayed by the media, they are planning for 75-100K.. Not all support the event...
Politics aside, those Confederate submariners who perished in the cramped hold of their submarine will always be part of America's military history. They were indeed American heroes, every bit as much as the courageous federal sailors and Marines they attacked. American warriors have not always fought in popular wars. But like so many Americans, before or since, the men of the Hunley risked and ultimately sacrificed their lives for their country. They served during a time when service to one's country was considered to be one's ultimate duty, and loyalty to one's state (defined in a period dictionary as "a nation; an independent country.") superseded all other allegiances. They became the first American submariners to sink an enemy warship in combat, and that alone is what they should be remembered for. Mike | |
| Posted by:Mike Kozlowski |
| #3 Hunley... I stand corrected. Jeez what a death trap. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-16 4:34:49 PM |
| #2 It is appropriate to honor these fallen sailors for the ultimate sacrifice they made, just like President Lincoln did for BOTH sides at Gettysburg. Regardless of all of our political leanings, this is part of our heritage. It sounds like a well planned and respectful ceremony. Wish I could be there. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-04-16 2:02:47 PM |
| #1 (Jefferson) Davis lied! People died! /19th Century LLL |
| Posted by: Unmutual 2004-04-16 1:43:50 PM |