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Jeff Raines

Prof. June Nicholson

3/28/2019

Confederate Controversy

Members of the Virginia Flaggers stand outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,

protesting the 2010 takedown of the Confederate Battle Flag of the Northern Virginia

Army by the VMFA. They have stood in front of the Museum weekly since 2011.

The “Flaggers,” as they call themselves, have become a topic of debate and often protest,

as Confederate flags and memorials make headlines in recent years. A spokesperson for

the Flaggers, Barry Isenhour, says their goal is “very simple, to tell the truth about

American history.” Though the topic lends itself to more controversy than just that– as

opposition to them and supporters of the Confederacy clash over the 150-year-old

American Civil War and what remains of it.

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The grounds of the VMFA itself are a relic of the Civil War, as they were once the site of

slave owning plantation before becoming the R. E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldiers’

Home, during the reconstruction period. It was opened in 1885 and closed in 1941, after

the death of the last veteran on the land. The land was returned to the Commonwealth at

that point, as agreed by Lee Camp officials in exchange for state funding of the home.

The camp also received funds from private donations of other veterans, Confederate and

Union alike.

The VMFA opened its doors in 1936 on the site, and after the death of the last veteran

the museum assumed full control of the surrounding newly made state land. The museum

maintains the remaining buildings of the camp– the Robinson House, the Home for

Confederate Women (Currently the Pauley Center), and the Confederate Memorial

Chapel. The buildings are protected under the Virginia Historic Landmarks and National

Register of Historic Places. However, it is the Confederate Memorial Chapel that draws

the attention of the Flaggers.

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In 2010, the VMFA removed the Confederate Battle Flag of the Northern Virginia Army,

gaining them the ire of the Flaggers. The chapel was were Confederate veteran funerals

were held, the Flaggers said they want to see the veterans honored. Isenhour said it is

a simple issue, “put the flag back, and we will stop.” He later added the Flaggers don’t

want any additional placards or information available, “we want to have it as it is, no

reinterpretation.”

Notably, the only flag the Flaggers wish to see is the Battle Flag of the Northern Virginia

Army, the flag most commonly associated with the confederacy. Isenhour said “there is

no political ideology about it,” he added that it was “a nonpolitical flag, created by the

soldiers.”

Official Flag of the Confederacy Battle Flag of the Northern Virginia Army

He says he does not want to see any other flag, such as the actual official flag of the

Confederate States of America, which more closely resemble the traditional

Revolutionary War American flag. “Its all about the soldiers,” said Isenhour, as the

Flaggers main goal is to “venerate veterans.” 1,700 of which died on the grounds of the

R. E. Lee Camp, were he said the flag was flown.

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However, the VMFA sites the reasoning for taking the flag off the chapel, is because it is

historically inaccurate to hang the flag. The flag had never been hung at the camp or the

Confederate Chapel until the Sons of the Confederacy leased the chapel.

The VMFA stance is “in a nutshell we won’t fly the flag,” said a volunteer Confederate

Chapel attendant. “Historically they looked back and there weren’t flags on the chapel in

any of the pictures. As far as the museum could tell the flag was never-ever flown.”

Inside the chapel, however, there is a stained-glass depiction of the Northern Virginia

Army Battle Flag. In addition, near the pulpit of the chapel The US flag flies alongside

the Virginia state flag, the CSA’s flag and the Northern Virginia Army Battle Flag.

The museum volunteer inside the chapel, wished to remain unnamed. Multiple

employees said the museum does not want employees or volunteers to comment on the

Virginia Flaggers or the Confederate flag controversy. However, some employees were

willing to comment on the flaggers.

Museum security officer Shawn Gifford said, in reference to the Flaggers that, “they stay

over there and do their thing.” He was reluctant to comment as well, saying that they

were not supposed to talk about the Flaggers. “It’s a touchy thing,” Gifford said.

Several employees of the museum comment that they had not had negative experience

with the Flaggers. One employee, Cathy Culleton, at the information desk said “I

personally haven’t had a bad experience with them [the Flaggers].” Culleton added that

she had several interactions with them over her nearly 9-year employment at the VMFA.

Museum officials have yet to respond to requests for information on the subject.

However, it remains unlikely that the Virginia Flaggers will have their wish fulfilled. As
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the VMFA and the City of Richmond attempt to heal the 150-year-old scar left by the

Confederacy and Richmond’s role as its capital.