Civil War memorial causes controversy in Plant City
Last Edited: Friday, 16 Nov 2007, 6:39 AM EST. From WTVT Channel 13, Tampa, Florida
Created: Friday, 16 Nov 2007, 6:24 AM EST
This tribute to the past is causing problems in the present.
.PLANT CITY - Martha Skinner admits she loves living in the past.
"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors," said
Skinner.
Skinner, who's a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy of Plant City, decided a
bronze statue depicting the Civil War Cow Cavalry would be the perfect historic touch.
"I want them to see love and heritage and family pride," said Skinner.
But some only see a dark, ugly past scarred by slavery, segregation and racism. Former
NAACP President Darryl Rouson says the monument showing a member the Special Calvary
looks more like a confederate soldier. That, he says, should not be celebrated.
"We should be proud of some of our heritage and our culture and our legacy, but you
certainly don't see the Japanese running around celebrating Pearl Harbor because its a part
of their history," said Rouson.
But Skinner says the Cow Cavalry were a group of men who protected cattle and supplied
beef to the Confederate troops-- not racial ideology.
"They're not going to see a soldier in a uniform," she said. "They're not going to see
Confederate Flags flying. They're not going to see anything that should be racist. They're
just going to see heritage."
The monument will sit on city property, which is not sitting well with some.
But for a seventh generation Floridian, it was a way to never forget where we came from and
where we're headed.
"To me it stands for my family's heritage. It stands for who I am and I'm proud of it," said
Skinner.
The monument will be unveiled this Saturday at the Plant City High School Community center.
Last Edited: Friday, 16 Nov 2007, 6:39 AM EST. From WTVT Channel 13, Tampa, Florida
Created: Friday, 16 Nov 2007, 6:24 AM EST
This tribute to the past is causing problems in the present.
.PLANT CITY - Martha Skinner admits she loves living in the past.
"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors," said
Skinner.
Skinner, who's a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy of Plant City, decided a
bronze statue depicting the Civil War Cow Cavalry would be the perfect historic touch.
"I want them to see love and heritage and family pride," said Skinner.
But some only see a dark, ugly past scarred by slavery, segregation and racism. Former
NAACP President Darryl Rouson says the monument showing a member the Special Calvary
looks more like a confederate soldier. That, he says, should not be celebrated.
"We should be proud of some of our heritage and our culture and our legacy, but you
certainly don't see the Japanese running around celebrating Pearl Harbor because its a part
of their history," said Rouson.
But Skinner says the Cow Cavalry were a group of men who protected cattle and supplied
beef to the Confederate troops-- not racial ideology.
"They're not going to see a soldier in a uniform," she said. "They're not going to see
Confederate Flags flying. They're not going to see anything that should be racist. They're
just going to see heritage."
The monument will sit on city property, which is not sitting well with some.
But for a seventh generation Floridian, it was a way to never forget where we came from and
where we're headed.
"To me it stands for my family's heritage. It stands for who I am and I'm proud of it," said
Skinner.
The monument will be unveiled this Saturday at the Plant City High School Community center.
H.C.C. members present at monument dedication.
L-R, Jimmie M. Bob M. Cousin Earl, Rebel Chuck, JD, Rito, Steve S.
L-R, Jimmie M. Bob M. Cousin Earl, Rebel Chuck, JD, Rito, Steve S.
Walkway brick stone purchased by H.C.C.
Confederate memorial creates a stir
Plant City's only black commissioner says the marker doesn't belong on city
property.
By BEN MONTGOMERY and CATHERINE SHOICHET, Times Staff Writers
Published November 18, 2007
________________________________________
Confederate flag supporters gather for a photo next to the confederate war
memorial just after it was unveiled in Plant City. It is a monument topped with a
bronze depiction of a member of the Civil War's Cow Calvary. The dedication
is part of the 30th annual Pioneer Heritage day Celebration.
[Kathleen Flynn | Times]
PLANT CITY - The United Daughters of the Confederacy wore sun hats and
plantation dresses, all petticoats and lace. The men wore bushy beards, gray
coats and biker vests with rebel flag patches that said, "HARD CORE
CONFEDERATES."
They stood at the northeast corner of the old Plant City High School on
Saturday and pulled a tarp off the newest piece of city property: a bronze and
granite memorial to Confederate "Cow Cavalry" soldiers.
"Beautiful," said Paul Jones, 67, of Plant City.
The bronze memorial depicts a soldier with a rifle standing before a horse and
cattle. Etched in the granite base are the names of Capt. John T. Lesley's
Company B, 1st Battalion, Florida Special Cavalry, whose mission was to
protect Florida's cattle, an important source of food for Confederate fighters.
But the lone black member of this city's commission has reservations about
the marker.
At a commission meeting Tuesday, East Hillsborough Historical Society
officials told city leaders about the memorial, describing it as a "bronze relief
of a cracker cowboy with his horse and calf."
A few minutes later, City Commissioner Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis said there
was more to the story.
"This is a Confederate soldier, not just a cowboy, that we're putting on city
property," she said. "I just don't feel good about it."
She asked the Historical Society to notify city officials before making future
changes to city property. The society is headquartered inside the old high
school building that the city owns.
Society president Shelby Bender said Mathis' new rule would stop the society
from accepting donations for new exhibits at the Plant City High School
Community Center. Bender wondered: Where would commissioners draw the
line? Would they stop the society from keeping Confederate roster books?
From researching Confederate genealogy?
"I would just ask that the commission consider what good citizens we've
been," she said.
Ultimately, commissioners asked the city manager to draw up an agreement
shifting ownership of the building to the society, which maintains the historic
building and keeps its records there. That would alleviate the city of possible
conflicts, they reasoned.
The local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy spent 10 years
planning the memorial and raising about $16,000 to pay for it by selling
southern cookbooks and brick pavers, said chapter president Dee Wallnofer.
Many who support the marker argue that it is innocuous.
"I understand the objection to the battle flag," said artist Mike Bethune, who
designed and sculpted the memorial. "But it's like the battle flag thing is just
the starting point. They're trying to erase a lot of history."
Mathis, the commissioner, said several Plant City residents had complained.
They called her on the phone and left a package at her door about the
sculpture.
But some who attended Saturday's unveiling said those who object to the
memorial don't fully understand the Civil War and the motivations of the
Florida Confederates.
"The victor always gets to write the history books," said Bethune, who said he
designed the sculpture to make sure it didn't offend. "And all the objectors
know is what they learned in school. But there were a lot of black Confederate
soldiers."
He argued that his ancestors were too poor to own slaves and fought only to
protect their property.
"I love my history, and I know the truth about the war," he said. "I'm very, very
proud of this memorial."