Editor,
To the citizens of Eureka Springs and the Cemetery Board commissioners – I place before you something to ponder.
For over 20 years I have been walking through our cemetery to reflect upon the beauty and peacefulness that it provides, but with each walk, I have become aware of something troubling. For anyone visiting our cemetery they will find a growing collection of Confederate flags scattered throughout and placed beside various tombstones.
My question is why are they displayed all year long? If any cemetery allows these flags at all they are usually displayed on special occasions for only a few days and they must have permission from the family. Apparently, our cemetery does not require the family’s permission.
This means that anyone who still clings to the past and holds the Confederate cause near and dear to their heart can come into our cemetery and place these flags at their pleasure.
Eureka Springs is a lovely, popular tourist town and to have these flags displayed so prominently sends the wrong message. Personally speaking, I have family members who fought for the Confederacy, but I would never adorn their monuments with a flag that stood for slavery and white supremacy. It was a way of life that was wrong.
The Confederate flag is not a statement of heritage and southern pride. Simply put, with its sordid history, the Confederate flag defines racial violence and hatred. It divides us. Is this how we want to be seen by visitors coming into our town? I hope not.
Wake up Eureka Springs – we should all be united under just one flag, the American flag.
Kathy Attwood
It would be nice to hear the viewpoints of our cemetery commissioners on this issue.
Good point. I agree!