CURRENT HERITAGE ISSUES:
Jefferson Davis Hwy 99 Monument in Blaine, Washington:
The Washington State House passed Bill 4024 February 13, 2002 paving the way to renaming Jefferson Davis Highway 99 to the William P. Stewart Highway. Mr. Stewart served in a Colored Regiment of the Union Army for 68 days during the final days of the War Between the States.
In March 2002 the above bill died in a Senate committee. A Confederate Victory.
There have been numerous attempts in the past month to circumvent the system and to have the monument in Blaine removed much the same way as the monument in Vancouver was removed. Senator Georgia Gardner ordered the City Manager of Blaine to remove the marker from the Park, but he refused since neither the monument or the Park are within his jurisdiction. Rep. Hans Dunshee has directed the Washington State Department of Transportation to remove the marker, but they also refused on the same grounds.
March 15, 2002: The Director of the Washington State Parks Department, Cleve Pinnix, signed an "executive order" which will move the monument from its roadside location to a new, and allegedly permanent, location farther in the Park, but along with an "interpretive plaque".
April 5, 2002: The Jefferson Davis Highway monument was removed from the Peace Arch Park. It has been placed in "storage", and is to be placed at a new location in a few weeks. The obvious worry is that the monument will NOT be returned to the Park due to the pressures of political correctness. The UDC and their brothers, the SCV, are activiely involved in the issue to ensure that State Parks and Recreation Commission follows through with their stated intentions.
Jefferson Davis Hwy 99 Monument in Vancouver, Washington:
In May of 1998 the Jefferson Davis Highway monument in Vancouver was covertly and illegally removed from a Vancouver City Park that was once administered by the State. It has resided in a shed for the past several years. The threats by Rep. Hans Dunshee to remove the similar monument in Blaine, Washington has reignited the battle to replace the Vancouver Jefferson Davis monument to its original location or to find another suitable public place to display it. The Clark County Historical Preservation Commission, has refused to make recommendation to the Vancouver City Council as to the disposition of the monument, as they feel that according to their by-laws the monument is not in need of preservation. The Vancouver Mayor's Office has scheduled a public hearing to help resolve the issue on April 23, 2002.. Members of the UDC and the SCV will be present to provide perspective and insight as to the "other side" of the issue. Our Confederate heritage will be protected and preserved honorably.
Klamath Union High School Sent Student Home For Wearing Battle Flag
Raymond Greene is a good student. He gets good grades and stays out of trouble. At the begining of the 2003-2004 school year he wore a Confederate Battle Flag on his shirt to school. A student complained and the Vice-Pricipal asked Raymond if he believed in slavery. Raymond tried to explain that the flag had nothing to do with race and everything to do with American history. He was suspended from school for several days. Commander Stock of the Medford SCV camp contacted the School District trying to remove the suspension from Raymonds' record and get an apology from the school. The school district was given a copy of the Castorina decision which is a 6th District US Court of Appeals ruling that schools cannot prevent students from wearing clothing with Confederate Battle Flags to school. The school districts lawyer says the school has done nothing wrong. We are looking for a lawyer to work pro bono to get justice for Raymond Greene
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