My few but cherished readers will know that I have been thinking out loud about the importance of messaging related to the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. This essay is a summary of the messages that are important. Recall that I argued that knowing and repeating the history of the monument is not enough. We must be able to articulate what it means to us as Americans with some passion and emotion.

• Millions of Southerners have served in the United States military since the end of the Civil War. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice and are even buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Most were proud of their heritage which includes many Southern states seceding from the Union in 1860/1.

• Like most monuments and memorials, the Confederate Memorial at Arlington does portray the South in a positive light. That does not make it false or a glorification of slavery or white supremacy. It was a portrayal that was acceptable to the entire country in 1914.

• The memorial is testament to how Southerners wanted to be a part of the United States again. As was their service in WW1 which was beginning as the memorial was erected. The memorial dedication was 49 years after the end of the Civil War and most saw it as step in the reconciliation process.

• By removing the Confederate Memorial, we are not removing a lie or some monument to the Lost Cause. We are erasing the history of reconciliation within the country that put us in a position to weather the threats and world wars of the 20th century. The need for reconciliation was real even though it is hard to understand it today.

The Confederate Memorial marked for destruction is in a cemetery. Its sculpturer is buried at the foot of the sculpture. What kind country disturbs the graves of countrymen on the basis that a memorial does not represent how some in the country think today?