Dear Ms. Lunelle,
I have posted the Southern Cross in many events over the years, but I don't remember anywhere so many have expressed so much reservation for my safety and that I should consider not attending as I prepared to attend the Graham County Heritage Festival in Robinsville, North Carolina on the 4th and 5th of July alongside the Sons of Confederate Veterans Jackson Rangers Camp 1917 and their Commander the Honorable James Mike Parris, and fellow Camp Member Joseph Woodring.
Even one of my closest friends and also a member of the Camp would express that none of the men would hold it in disfavor if I did choose not to attend the event. He went on to say that there were not many Blacks living in the County or City and that the people did not hold them in good favor. And he expected that I would not be received very well.
I would don a Dixie Outfitter shirt that bore the picture of the Honorable General Robert E. Lee that covered my entire chest and was pleasantly surprised to see Commander Parris don in a Dixie Outfitter shirt with a picture of me that read that I was a Modern-Day Confederate Heritage Hero, and the caption describing the Historic March Across Dixie.
With the 90-degree heat, we were lucky to be amongst the vendors assigned to be inside the air-conditioned gymnasium. However, it did not take me long to excuse myself from Commander Mike and Joseph. With the Southern Cross in hand, I made
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