Newton wrote:
Gentlemen, <salute>
I am saddened and dismayed that the CSA is wiping out most of its medals and awards. I have not been active in the club for many years now, but I have held almost every position in the Confederate Army, including working at and commanding VMI, and Commander of the ANV, as well as severing on the Cabinet, so I feel I have a right to comment on this attack of the legacy of the ACWGC CSA. To throw away so many wonderful medals and ribbons using the premise that we have too many is misguided and tragic. Many, many hours went in to designing and producing these medals and awards and their beauty rivals any actual medals and ribbons. To say we have to many is saying you have not worked with these awards and are just lazy in handing them out. I have been deeply involved in handing out VMI awards, specific army awards, and CSA awards. It's not that hard and once you have a grasp of our awards, it's not complicated. It is a travesty to get rid of so many wonderful years of awards and medals just because you think we have too many and it's hard for you to know which ones to hand out. If to hand out some awards and medals is too much of a logistical problem then suspend that award, but don't remove it. At a time when our club is has been shrinking from the outside now you want to start shrinking it even more from the inside. I just cringe at the thought of all those beautiful medals, most of whom were made by the CSA Medals Foundry and by many members who have past on, being torn down. Don't you guys have anything better to do to help the CSA than to spend an entire year year renaming and throwing away our rich awards heritage? A tremendous amount of work and love went into creating and handing out those awards and for them to just be tossed aside shows a complete misunderstanding of their use and value. Shame on you for your lack of vision and for not protecting our storied CSA club history.
Regards,
General John Newton
ANV
CSA
I wholeheartedly agree.