Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis is getting a lot of heat in the commonwealth in lieu of the most recent shootings in South Carolina. Even a lightning bolt that struck the Jefferson Davis Historic Site's obelisk in Fairview on June 26th became newsworthy because of the controversy surrounding the role of the confederate flag. This year, the Kentucky State Parks' site hosted its inaugural 4th of July celebration.
When Ron Sydnor, manager of the Jefferson Davis Historic Site, revealed Fairview would play host for the first time, you might imagine it bringing a mixed bag of emotions. Several hundred people stopped by the monument with the concern that this is the last time they will see it. Sydnor says he isn’t sure where the confusion is coming from. But, just last week Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnel told reporters that it was “appropriate” to be “talking about the appropriateness of continuing to have the Jefferson Davis’ statue in a very prominent place” in the state Capitol building. So the confusion could have its roots there.
The Canterelli family brought their daughter to the monument because they were afraid it might not be around later. Their 5-year-old daughter, Fran, signed a replica of The Declaration of Independence, and when asked how she felt about the United States, said
“America is a great country.”
Fran’s mom, Carrie, is bit more somber about the experience. Her brother Corporal Joshua Moore was killed by an IED during his service in Iraq.
“Even though it’s painful, it’s our history. This is what we had to go through as a country, to get to where we’re at today. When I see the Confederate Flag I knew that one time in history there is a young lady that feels just like I do, that when they see the red that it impacts them more because that blood is their blood” Carrie said.
Randy Davenport of Henderson Kentucky was part of a Confederate Flag rally that started in Madisonville and finished at the monument.
“It seems like the government is taking everything away, and it’s not that everybody really keeps the flag on their mind but since they are trying to take everything away you’ve got to stand for something,” Davenport said.
Davenport said he isn’t racist. But that’s where conversation seems to go when the flag is mentioned.
By the way, the parks manager, Mr. Sydnor, is black. He says it sometimes takes some thick skin to do his job.
“I get some people when they find out I’m the manager here, they walk away laughing. Some people very, very few as a matter of fact get upset about it, and then the majority of people say, that’s great, we are glad to see it.” Sydnor said.
Sydnor was raised just 6 miles down the road from the monument. He is a retired Vietnam War Veteran. He earned a BA from University of California Berkeley with a focus on the Colonial period through the Civil War.
“I’ve loved history since I was old enough to read” Sydnor said.
"And that is what today is about at the monument" says Sydnor. Davis was a true American statesman.
“Who was responsible for the House of Representatives building, the Senate Hall and the aqueduct system in the nation’s capital. Davis is the one that suggested we build a railroad to connect the Pacific to the Atlantic, i.e. the Transcontinental Railroad. People don’t know that Davis established the Army Medical Corps. People don’t know that Davis established the Army Pension Plan.” Sydnor said.
Another visitor at the monument, Douglas Gray from northeast Arkansas, returned after almost 20 years to celebrate the history of Davis, though more recent events have him worried about his country.
“It is my opinion that the government should be overthrown immediately and common people take over this country.” Gray said.
Mr. Sydnor ended Saturday's program with the National Anthem. He proudly announced the monument will host a Fourth of July celebration next year and unless the obelisk is destroyed by another lightning bolt, it isn’t going anywhere.
