by Larry Chowning –
Concern over the future of the Daughters of the Confederacy’s 1910 monument on the courthouse green (the grounds of the Middlesex County Historic Courthouse) was brought up during the public comment period at the June 7 Middlesex County Board of Supervisors meeting.
John Weidner of Deltaville, who moved to Middlesex County four years ago from the Washington, D.C. area, spoke in favor of keeping the monument “right where it is.”
He reminded the board that 75% of the electorate in Middlesex voted in a November 2021 advisory referendum to keep the monument, while 25% voted to take it down. The advisory referendum, however, does not require supervisors to abide by the majority vote.
Weidner contends that when put in the proper context the monument is dedicated by mothers, sisters and wives as a tribute to their family members. “It was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy out of love of family,” he said.
“These were poor men going off to fight a rich man’s war,” said Weidner. “As with any war, we see the sacrifice of women and by erecting this monument the women of Middlesex wanted to honor their fathers, brothers and sons who went off to war.”
“I want you to leave the monument right where it is as a reminder to generations of people to come that we should not repeat our mistakes,” he said.
Historic Courthouse Committee
The Middlesex County Historic Courthouse Committee met on Wednesday, June 8, at the courthouse and decided to have the historical items in the courthouse and on the grounds inventoried to determine what needs to be altered…
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