Restricted 105-year-old Confederate statue stirs controversy in Loudoun (Photos) - VA

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105-year-old Confederate statue stirs controversy in Loudoun (Photos)


Wednesday - 5/15/2013, 10:32am ET
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A statue of a Confederate soldier sits outside the Loudoun County Courthouse, but some find the statue intimidating and want it moved. (WTOP/Hank Silverbeg)
150 years after the Civil War, some wounds are unhealed

WTOP's Hank Silverberg reports. (runs 1:21)
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LEESBURG, Va. - A statue of a Confederate soldier that has stood in front of the historic courthouse in Loudoun County since 1908 is now being called inappropriate and a local lawyer says it should be removed.
The statue was erected to honor the war dead at a time when many Civil war veterans were still alive.
The statue shows a Confederate soldier standing guard with his rifle ready.
An inscription, carved into the stone monument, says, "In memory of the Confederate Soldiers of Loudoun County, Va. Erected May 28, 1908."
But Loudoun County, deeply divided over the war in 1861, may not have healed old wounds.
Attorney John Flannery, who often has cases in the courthouse, wants the statue moved elsewhere. He says it's intimidating to some of his clients.
"It deters people. It chills them from believing they can get a fair shake in court," he says.
Flannery says he's actually had clients who are afraid they won't get justice in a courthouse after seeing the statue.
"It's a living, active courthouse, which already has challenges in terms of discrimination in terms of persons of color, and not only them."
But he will get an argument from many local folks. Local historian Gene Scheel says the statue is not a symbol, it's history.
"In 1908, a statue like this was considered to be an honor, that's history."

For the rest: http://www.wtop.com/159/3322329/105-year-old-Confederate-statue-stirs-controversy-Photos
 
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