In search of the spirit of 1776/1861 in the 21st century: Confederate Monument at Texarkana (beginning of Texas Monument Project)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Confederate Monument at Texarkana (beginning of Texas Monument Project)

I have decided as a pet project to get a photo at all confederate monuments in the state of Texas. After studying on how many and where these great monuments to the Confederate soldier and the Confederacy, I have realized I have not seen very many of them, even in the DFW area, an area in which I have lived 20+ years. So with this in mind, I will be posting pictures at each Monument and eventually have an album made. I will knock out the Confederate War memorial in Downtown Dallas, Robert E. Lee monument in Dallas, Tarrant County, Denton County and others in the next week or so. When I am traveling in Texas in the future I will make it a point to stop and get pictures in the countys I am traveling through and post everything on here. So the first ( of many) is in this post.
This Monument is in Down town Texarkana within yards of the post office. I was in Texarkana for Easter with my girlfriend Blair. Unfortunately, on the way back I was unable to get photos at three other county monuments due to weather, but I will get another chance in the near future.
This monument was dedicated APRIL 21 1918 at the cost of $10,000 USD ($ 142,000 USD TODAY!) The united daughters of the Confederacy helped raise money for the monument. The big inscription on this monument reads " TO OUR LOYAL CONFEDERATES" and has a Confederate Infantrymen standing atop the obelisk. A female figure is within the monument sitting on a chair with the CSA battleflag on it. The smaller inscription reads " O' GREAT CONFEDERATE MOTHERS WE WOULD PAINT YOUR NAMES ON MONUMENTS THAT MEN MAY READ THEM AS THE YEARS GO BY AND TRIBUTE PAY TO YOU WHO BORE AND NURTURED HERO SONS AND GAVE THEM SOLACE ON THAT DARKEST DAY WHEN THEY CAME HOME WITH BROKEN SWORDS AND GUNS!

This monument is well done and has a great location in the town swuare, it is large by other Texas Monuments standards and has alot of unique features. It is showing some age and the bushes around it are growing in such a way that if one wants a photo with it, it is quite difficult. The bush also obscures a good portion of the monument from auto traffic traveling in the square. I hope it is not done on purpose but in the war to destroy southern heritage and history, one can never know for sure. On my 1-10 scale I rate this monument an 8 based on size, uniqueness and prominence in the town square. This is truly a must see, when one is in East Texas!

SCORE: 8!