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The press release below was just received from Cmdr. Giles of the
Garland-Rodes Camp #409. A drawing of the monument is attached. Plans
are underway to raise funds for the monument and additional details
will be sent out on the Virginia Courier or posted on the Division Web
site as they become available.<br>
<br>
<br>
John Sawyer, Commander<br>
Virginia Division SCV<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The Sons of Confederate Veterans Garland–Rodes Camp #409 of Lynchburg,
Va. proudly announce the latest camp project to--erect a permanent
monument honoring Confederate General Jubal A. Early in Middletown,
Va., on the site of the 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek.<br>
<br>
Negotiations are now actively underway with the Town of Middletown to
locate it in a proposed park just off Route 11 in Middletown, ground on
which Gen. Early most certainly fought upon and where hundreds of young
patriots lost their lives. Camp Commander Brian Giles said, “Gen.
Early was in command of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle
of Cedar Creek and his heroic effort to destroy Union General Phillip
Sheridan’s forces after the “burning” of the Shenandoah Valley has
never been forgotten by the Southern people; therefore he needs to make
his stand once again only this time in stone and bronze in recognition
of our Southern heritage and culture.”<br>
<br>
Camp Commander Giles, a Lynchburg resident, readily admits that there
is no monument honoring Gen. Early, also a long time resident of
Lynchburg after the war, standing on any civil war battlefield. But,
with the help of the Garland–Rodes Camp, this will soon be corrected.<br>
<br>
Gary Casteel of Lexington, Va., a noted historical sculptor, has been
commissioned by the Garland–Rodes Camp to prepare the sculpture and
work with the camp and the Town of Middletown to erect the monument.
The stone and bronze memorial will consist of a life size bronze
bas-relief of Gen. Early attached to a standing gray granite slab on a
base stone. Engraved into the rear of the stone will be a short
history of the Confederate forces’ actions during the Battle of Cedar
Creek.<br>
<br>
The conceptual proposal being reviewed by the Town of Middletown for a
memorial park would contain walking paths, shaded landscaping and the
Gen. Early monument on land that has been already been zoned for
development. Mayor Mark Brown received an overwhelming positive
response from the Town Council for the monument erection during a
recent council meeting. The Mayor stated that he was more than happy
to see Gen. Early return to Middletown, and this time to stay.<br>
<br>
A fund raising program is currently in progress by the Garland–Rodes
Camp with an undetermined unveiling date at this time. However, they
hope to have the project completed with an official unveiling ceremony
during the American Civil War Sesquicentennial 2011 – 2015. For more
information or to make a donation, contact the Garland–Rodes SCV
Camp#409, Lynchburg, Va., Commander Brian Giles, to
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:scv3rdbrigade@yahoo.com">"scv3rdbrigade@yahoo.com"</a>_ or 434-942-8075. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<img src="cid:part1.04050202.03080704@comcast.net" alt=""><br>
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