April 20, 2010:
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Delaware Confederate History Remembered May 8th in Georgetown

Contact: Wayne Yarnall
Publicity Co-Chair
302-218-3372
April 20, 2010

As many as 2 thousand Delawareans crossed the Chesapeake Bay and avoided the Union blockade to join Confederate armies during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. The “Delaware Grays” Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #2068 are remembering these men during ceremonies being held Saturday May 8 at the Delaware Confederate Soldiers Monument on the grounds of the Georgetown Historical Society, South Bedford Street, Georgetown, Delaware.

Admission is free and open to the general public. The grounds of the Marvel Museum are open at Noon with ceremonies beginning at 1pm. There will be speeches commemorating the event, volleys using replica Civil War muskets, cannon firing salute, wreath laying ceremony, and raising of the Confederate Battle Flag. A proclamation will be read from the City of Georgetown asking citizens to remember and study the events of this very important era in American history. Following the event there will be refreshments as well as re-enactors walking the grounds.

Delaware, a border state during the war, never left the Union, but it is estimated as many as 2,000 of her native sons joined Southern armies. There are monuments honoring those who joined the Federal armies, at Gettysburg and Antietam Battlefields as well as other places, but only one recognizing the sacrifices of Delawareans who supported the Cause of independence and States Rights between 1861-1865.

Names of many Delaware’s Confederate soldiers are included on this monument and more added as on-going scholarship reveals more of their identities. Anyone with names of possible Delaware Confederate soldiers is asked to contact the Monument Committee through the “Delaware Grays” website at www.DESCV.org.

If you or your group is interested in presenting a wreath during this event, contact the Monument Committee through the Delaware Grays website at www.DESCV.org and click on the Monument Committee link.

The “Delaware Grays”, SCV Camp #2068, based in Seaford, Delaware, is a non-profit, non-political, non-racial, patriotic community organization whose members are descendents of Confederate veterans who served honorably during the “War Between the States”. Interested persons can find out more by visiting www.DESCV.org. The non-profit Georgetown Historical Society is located at 510 South Bedford Street, off Rt. 113 and just down from the inspection lane in Georgetown, Delaware. The museum includes a collection of historic buildings and horse drawn carriages as well as thousands of historical photographs, newspaper clippings, books and other memorabilia about Georgetown, Sussex County, and Delaware.

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