Letter to Troup County Commission on Confederate History & Heritage Month – by Billy Bearden
The following letter was written to the Troup County Commission in response to the refusal to consider a Proclamation for
Confederate History and Heritage Month for April. Their county manager took it upon himself to refuse on behalf of the Commission.
Dear Sirs,
My name is Billy Bearden, a resident of Carroll County, Georgia, and a member of the Georgia Division Sons
of Confederate Veterans Camp #1239 in Villa Rica.
I just received word that Troup County Manager Michael J. Dobbs has forbidden the Ga. Div. S.C.V. to
submit to the County Commissioners a "Confederate Heritage & History Month Proclamation" for consideration and signing.
I personally believe that if this is true, then it is very mean spirited and a slap at not only those
of us who are charged with honoring our ancestors, but to the brave Confederate Veterans themselves.
For the record, Confederate Veterans are, according to United States Law, United States Veterans and
entitled to every benefit thereof. As of March 6th, 2006, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a Confederate Heritage and History Month
Proclamation. Furthermore, the surrounding counties and cities like Heard County, Franklin, Carroll County, Carrollton. Fayette County,
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Coweta County, Newnan, Douglas County and Douglasville have also signed one on behalf of honoring our war dead
and to encourage citizens to study the history of the Great Conflict.
While the standard Memorial Day is May 29th this year, back on April 26th 1874, the State of Georgia
passed the law creating April 26th every year as Confederate Memorial Day.
I am unsure if the motive behind Mr. Dobbs' decision is to discriminate against American Veterans, or to
hinder public education. In either case, I do hereby ignore his unilateral decree and respectfully request that the sample Proclamation below be
submitted to the full board and given proper consideration for signing to join the rest of Georgia in paying official recognition to the Confederate
Veterans buried in and around Troup County, to the bravery and sacrifice suffered by the Troup men and boys, and to acknowledge their contributions
to our society.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thanks & God Bless,
Billy Bearden
address withheld by GHC
Carrollton Georgia 30117
Phone withheld by GHC
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