Stolen Valor.

[Borderruffian]

They are presenting history hence "acting" for others benifit as a soldier, swabby, or Marine . Yes they enjoy it, yes they work very hard on their impressions, uniforms etc. They are not "stealing valor" as they really can't to any feasible purpose, are going to believe Seth in the 21st Ohio was actually at such and such battle in 1863 ?

 

[damYankee]

The 8th Alabama camped on what is at present my farm, then marched off to the Wilderness. In my living room there is a small memorial honoring them and telling part of their story. On foggy mornings I will sometimes put the McClellan on my horse and ride out to listen to them. Is that trying to steal their valor or honoring it? only 169 of them made it to Appomattox but rather than surrender their flag they tore it apart and each survivor kept a piece. No one or nothing can steal their valor.

I would say you are living the dream of nearly everyone on this forum!

 

[Allie]

Good point, but there are those who behave as if they are the victim of the outcome of history, as if they personally experienced the defeat of the CSA, that thier heritage was defiled and is still being mistreated.
To make statements that allude to events that happened 150 years ago as personal experiences is laughable.

Certain descendants' organizations ask members to swear to do just that, and have done since the days when some veterans were still alive. Speaking for myself, I find it misplaced, but it can't be a matter of stolen valor when the soldiers themselves asked you to do it.

 

[major bill]

I once gave some thought to joining the Sons of Union Veterans but never did. I felt kind of funny getting to join a group just because my great great grandfather served and died in the Civil War. I mean I did not personally serve and die in the Civil War. Well I guess if I died in the Civil War it would be hard to fill out the application forms. My father did insist I get a life membership in his VFW hall. I have been to the VFW hall once in the last decade, but I only went to get my life membership card replaced after it broke in two. For the life of me I can not figure out why I even replaced the card.

 

[Waterloo50]

We all have a vivid imagination, that is part of being a history nut, and if you enjoy studying the Civil War having an imagination is important. With all the thousands of books and hundreds of movies made about that event it is easy to have our imagination fueled by imagery of gloriously brave men living heroic lives.
But when does that cross the line and become stolen valor?
We should always respect and honor the sacrifices made by past generations, but do we honestly have the right to suggest that we continue on with their legacy?
I appreciate and applaud reenactments and those who participate in historical reenactment, but I suspect those who allude to an affiliation or somehow suggest that they are still living that experience and are carrying some family traditions are IMO pushing the limits, and come very close to stealing the valor of men long dead.

Most of us will have relatives that served in the military, I like to think that my relatives and my long forgotten ancestors did their best and stood by their comrades. I can't say that I have any relatives that earned the Victoria Cross or performed any exceptional heroic deeds but just knowing that they were there in the thick of it, I find comforting, I've been in the military myself but I've never been in combat, I came close to getting blown up a couple of times but I've never had anyone point a gun at me and I have never had to kill a man. I take strength from the fact that my relatives performed their duty and showed courage when it mattered. The only bit of valour that I take from them is that if they could do it, then perhaps so could I. I'm proud of what the men in my family achieved, On remembrance day, I am one of the few people that wears the Waterloo Medal (a copy, the original was sadly stolen), everyone knows that it couldn't possibly be mine but I swell with pride when I say that it was my xG grandfathers its just my way of saying he was there, don't forget him. If that's stolen valour, then I'm guilty as charged.

 

[Will Carry]

I finally found something we agree on Yank! Nice post.

 

[zburkett]

Well said Waterloo50

 

[Waterloo50]

I would say you are living the dream of nearly everyone on this forum!

I agree with you, sounds amazing.

 

[zburkett]

Thanks guys. I'm living my dream and feel very blessed.

 

[damYankee]

I didn't intend to sound critical of reenactors. I feel they play a very important role in keeping history alive.
Sorry if it sounded that way.
The people I had in mind is those who speak of the North and South as if they are still different cultures, or still comment on matters as if they are speaking as a genuine representative of the Confederate cause.

 

[unionblue]

I didn't intend to sound critical of reenactors. I feel they play a very important role in keeping history alive.
Sorry if it sounded that way.
The people I had in mind is those who still speak of the North and South as different cultures, or still comment on matters as if they are speaking as a genuine representative of the Confederate cause.

damYankee,

Your above post reminded me of a quote I had read long ago, especially the part I emboldened above.

"Does the man who, in the relative safety of mob anonymity, stands howling vituperation at a little Negro girl being conducted into a school building, feel himself at one with those gaunt, barefoot, whiskery scarecrows who fought it out, breast to breast, to the death, at the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania, in May 1864?"

Robert Penn Warren, The Legacy of the Civil War.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[BillO]

I didn't intend to sound critical of reenactors. I feel they play a very important role in keeping history alive.
Sorry if it sounded that way.
The people I had in mind is those who still speak of the North and South as different cultures, or still comment on matters as if they are speaking as a genuine representative of the Confederate cause.

I've come to the realization that there are 2 separate cultures but they aren't so much north versus south as they are urban, suburbia versus rural, small town.

 

[zburkett]

I was born in ranch country Texas. My wife if from New York. We met working in Washington, DC. We moved to central Virginia. I know from experience there are numerous cultural differences, sometimes in the same family. It is how we live together while keeping our own identity that is important.

 

[damYankee]

I've come to the realization that there are 2 separate cultures but they aren't so much north versus south as they are urban, suburbia versus rural, small town.

I will have to correct myself, what I meant was people who believe we are still two seperate cultures.
At one time perhaps, but no longer.
I have worked in most states, and lived in six different states, other than accents and local food we are more alike than different.

 

[BillO]

I was born in ranch country Texas. My wife if from New York. We met working in Washington, DC. We moved to central Virginia. I know from experience there are numerous cultural differences, sometimes in the same family. It is how we live together while keeping our own identity that is important.

Welcome to Virginia. My first trip to Texas I was called a yankee. I thought it was a hoot.

 

[zburkett]

Welcome to Virginia. My first trip to Texas I was called a yankee. I thought it was a hoot.

My family in Texas still claim I moved to Yankee Land.

 

[Rebforever]

The 8th Alabama camped on what is at present my farm, then marched off to the Wilderness. In my living room there is a small memorial honoring them and telling part of their story. On foggy mornings I will sometimes put the McClellan on my horse and ride out to listen to them. Is that trying to steal their valor or honoring it? only 169 of them made it to Appomattox but rather than surrender their flag they tore it apart and each survivor kept a piece. No one or nothing can steal their valor.

 

[unionblue]

Welcome to Virginia. My first trip to Texas I was called a yankee. I thought it was a hoot.

When I joined the US Army right out of high school from Ohio I was assigned to Ft. Devens, MA, where I was told I had a deep, southern accent. When I was assigned to San Antonio, TX, I was told I had a sharp, New England accent.

When I was assigned to Hawaii, I was told I was a halli (a white guy from the mainland).

I finally had enough and told folks that I was from Ohio and spoke English at the American Standard Level.

 

[TFSmith121]

I did my basic and advanced training in my home state, so pretty much my entire company/class sounded like me... We had a couple of guys from elsewhere in the US, but not many. Then spent the majority of my active duty time (other than when overseas or at sea) stationed in my home state.

No rhyme or reason at times in the service; lots of chance.

Best,

 

[Burning Billy]

The Civil War veterans are long dead, and no one (I hope!) would ever mistake a reenactor for the real thing. Of course the reenactors aren't presenting themselves as such either, so I don't see anything offensive with it.

That said I do find the people who reenact modern wars that still have plenty of living participants to be a bit odd. What's the point of reenacting World War Two or the Vietnam War? Those wars thankfully have yet to pass out of living memory, and we don't need hobbyists trying to demonstrate (poorly) what it was like. There's nothing educational there. It's just a bunch of men playing dress up and cowboys-and-Indians with a WW2 paint job.