Monday is Confederate Memorial Day. Why does MS still celebrate it and what does it mean?

[K.I.T.T.]

Subject i believe was on confederate soldiers being honored and should they.

Ah, yes. Well, I personally think they deserve to be recognized and honored for their valiant and honorable service to a very worthy cause. Too bad about Lincoln and that filthy Emancipation Proclamation, though. If only John Wilkes Boothe had gotten to him sooner.

 

[Htos1av]

The Confederate dead fought the forces of demons and London freemasonry. DUH!! Or did you buy the bullshit on the tv?

 

[mrln]

Intentionally killing innocent people is a crime and deserves no recognition just prison.

so then war should be illegal then. is that what your saying?

 

[Amalgamation]

I bet if we made killing others illegal, then people would stop killing each other.

 

[Solomon Kane]

War crimes are illegal and those committing them should be punished. I do not hold onto the concept that the confederate army were driven by war criminals.

 

[Super Kirbo]

Full article from Clarion Ledger/Google News Feed:

Mississippi will celebrate Confederate Memorial Day soon. Only four states still honor the Civil War dead with a day off for public workers, though others still treat it as a holiday.

The Magnolia State takes it a step further and celebrates April as Confederate Heritage Month. Gov. Tate Reeves signed a proclamation on April 17, noting the war started this month in 1861. It was the deadliest conflict fought in the nation.

"Whereas, as we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation's past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us," the proclamation reads.

Here's what you need to know about Confederate Memorial Day, when Mississippi celebrates, attempts to drop the holiday from the calendar and what other Confederate holidays the state celebrates.

What is Confederate Memorial Day?

Confederate Memorial Day was created in Georgia on April 26, 1866. It honored the deaths of Confederate soldiers on the first anniversary of the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston surrendered the Army of Tennessee to Union Gen. William Sherman at Bennett Place, North Carolina.

Many in the Confederacy felt that negotiation marked the end of the Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant two weeks earlier at Appomattox Court House, but Johnston stayed in the field with almost 90,000 soldiers.

The holiday spread to the other Confederate states. Some changed their celebration dates to something more locally significant.

When does Mississippi celebrate Confederate Memorial Day in 2025?

Public workers will get a state holiday on Monday, April 28.

Which states still honor Confederate Memorial Day? Are they all holidays?

Confederate Memorial Day is still celebrated across the South, though not all places treat it officially and give state workers the day off.

In Mississippi, it's an official state holiday on the last Monday in April.

In Alabama and Florida, it's on the fourth Monday in April. Alabama treats it as an official holiday.

Texas celebrates it as a state holiday on Jan. 19.

North and South Carolina celebrate on May 10, but state offices close only in South Carolina.



June 3 is when Kentucky and Tennessee honor the dead from the Civil War, and Tennessee calls it Confederate Decoration Day.

Does anyone want Mississippi to drop Confederate Memorial Day?

Yes. A bill to stop celebrating Confederate Memorial Day and designate June 19 as a Juneteenth Freedom Day died in committee in the 2025 legislative session. It was brought by state Sen. Derrick T. Simmons, District 12.



Simmons has introduced a bill to remove the Confederate holiday almost every year he's been in office. Last year, he said he's been hopeful the state is ready to make the change since lawmakers changed the state flag in 2020. The Confederate battle flag was replaced by a magnolia design with the words "In God We Trust."

What other Confederate holidays are still celebrated in Mississippi?

When a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was adopted in the 1980s, Mississippi and Alabama lawmakers opted to add it to an existing holiday honoring Lee. Many states in the South initially adopted this approach. Most, including Lee's home state of Virginia, have since dropped celebrating Lee, who was born on Jan. 19, 1807.

Attempts to separate the holidays through legislation have failed in committee. Mississippi State Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, introduced bills in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The only other state celebrating Robert E. Lee Day and King together is Alabama. Similar bills to separate the celebration of Lee or strike it from the state holiday calendar completely have also failed to pass.

Alabama also has a state holiday for Confederate President Jefferson Davis on the first Monday in June, but Mississippi pairs it with Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. (He was born June 3, 1808.)





Link: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2025/04/23/confederate-memorial-day-a-mississippi-holiday-some-want-to-drop-it/83144767007/

get those flags up boys !!!!

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

I didn’t call you a troll. I said I fish for content in threads like these, when he asked why I engage with you.

Oh ok, Caesar was and I thought you were agreeing with him. I misunderstood, excuse me.

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

War crimes are illegal and those committing them should be punished. I do not hold onto the concept that the confederate army were driven by war criminals.

When did I say they were war criminals? If you are talking about Sherman’s march, that wasn’t war crimes at the time and the confederates would, some said they would, do the same in the north.

I said the central confederate cause was unjust. Not only the preservation but the expansion of slavery. This is one of the worst causes of a rebellion ever fought for and I don’t think it should be glorified or honored with statues. I’m all for teaching the history and having respect for war dead and all that but not honoring the confederacy and their generals and politicians.

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

He's a troll. His thought on the subject is to go against whatever the common consensus is in regard to whatever he posted. Why even bother with this asshole?

Also, I’ve already explained, more than once, why I do these discussion. I want to convince people of my arguments, I want to learn stuff from discussion and hear new arguments from my opponents or anyone who I am engaging with.

Also I just like intellectual discussion nand debate and it’s often pleasurable. Sometimes I feel it’s a duty to as well.

I have given you not one good reason for you to think I’m being dishonest about that and am some secret “troll”. You are engaging in the shadiest and scummiest type of politics which is to avoid addressing the arguments of a person by questioning their motives and identity. Thats BULLSHIT!

What infuriates me though is not that you do and think this. Lots of shady people like you in politics, you do you boo boo. It’s that you try to spread your intellectual poison to people I am having good dialogue with. Stop doing it, and every time you try to I will call you out like i am doing now

You have the character of a censor official or a secret policeman. If you could you would ban me for my speech and take down my threads. Get fucked Caesar alright.

 

[hedgerow]

Also, I’ve already explained, more than once, why I do these discussion. I want to convince people of my arguments, I want to learn stuff from discussion and hear new arguments from my opponents or anyone who I am engaging with.

Also I just like intellectual discussion nand debate and it’s often pleasurable. Sometimes I feel it’s a duty to as well.

I have given you not one good reason for you to think I’m being dishonest about that and am some secret “troll”. You are engaging in the shadiest and scummiest type of politics which is to avoid addressing the arguments of a person by questioning their motives and identity. Thats BULLSHIT!

What infuriates me though is not that you do and think this. Lots of shady people like you in politics, you do you boo boo. It’s that you try to spread your intellectual poison to people I am having good dialogue with. Stop doing it, and every time you try to I will call you out like i am doing now

You have the character of a censor official or a secret policeman. If you could you would ban me for my speech and take down my threads. Get fucked Caesar alright.

I question your entire motive and identity here...this isn't debate club, you demonrat voter.

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

I question your entire motive and identity here...this isn't debate club, you demonrat voter.

Yes I know you do, but you, like Caesar, have no reason to do so. Also perhaps because both of you have bad motives you assume I do. Who knows.

No shit, I thought I was in debate club, thanks for setting me straight..

This is a forum Numbnuts, which serves many purposes. One is to discuss politics, history, or the news, which is what I’m doing.

 

[hedgerow]

Yes I know you do, but you, like Caesar, have no reason to do so. Also perhaps because both of you have bad motives you assume I do. Who knows.

No shit, I thought I was in debate club, that’s for setting me straight..

This is a forum Numbnuts, which serves many purposes. One is to discuss politics, history, or the news, which is what I’m doing.

thanks for the update, but you're boring and post boring surveys and other useless shit.

You still haven't told me how mentally disabled you are. Just a little (1) or really a lot (5). I take you as a 4 or 5, don't you agree, mediocre man?

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

Fuck off. You're a contrarian troll. No sane person is 100% against logic and common sense. If you are seriously not a troll then you are a retarded lunatic.

you are a bad faith bitch. Contrarian is stupid. I don’t take positions just because they are unpopular or opposite to others. I think things out for myself and try to stick to certain principles.

I never said I’m 100 percent against logic or common sense. I remember saying common sense isn’t good a finding objective truth because it isn’t, because what is “common sense” to people is subjective and variable.

Suck my dick if you don’t understand that basic point. Again though you’ll never actually address my argument because you a dishonest punk

Now apologize to me and it will all be over.😜

 

[Private Joker]

Full article from Clarion Ledger/Google News Feed:

Mississippi will celebrate Confederate Memorial Day soon. Only four states still honor the Civil War dead with a day off for public workers, though others still treat it as a holiday.

The Magnolia State takes it a step further and celebrates April as Confederate Heritage Month. Gov. Tate Reeves signed a proclamation on April 17, noting the war started this month in 1861. It was the deadliest conflict fought in the nation.

"Whereas, as we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation's past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us," the proclamation reads.

Here's what you need to know about Confederate Memorial Day, when Mississippi celebrates, attempts to drop the holiday from the calendar and what other Confederate holidays the state celebrates.

What is Confederate Memorial Day?

Confederate Memorial Day was created in Georgia on April 26, 1866. It honored the deaths of Confederate soldiers on the first anniversary of the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston surrendered the Army of Tennessee to Union Gen. William Sherman at Bennett Place, North Carolina.

Many in the Confederacy felt that negotiation marked the end of the Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant two weeks earlier at Appomattox Court House, but Johnston stayed in the field with almost 90,000 soldiers.

The holiday spread to the other Confederate states. Some changed their celebration dates to something more locally significant.

When does Mississippi celebrate Confederate Memorial Day in 2025?

Public workers will get a state holiday on Monday, April 28.

Which states still honor Confederate Memorial Day? Are they all holidays?

Confederate Memorial Day is still celebrated across the South, though not all places treat it officially and give state workers the day off.

In Mississippi, it's an official state holiday on the last Monday in April.

In Alabama and Florida, it's on the fourth Monday in April. Alabama treats it as an official holiday.

Texas celebrates it as a state holiday on Jan. 19.

North and South Carolina celebrate on May 10, but state offices close only in South Carolina.



June 3 is when Kentucky and Tennessee honor the dead from the Civil War, and Tennessee calls it Confederate Decoration Day.

Does anyone want Mississippi to drop Confederate Memorial Day?

Yes. A bill to stop celebrating Confederate Memorial Day and designate June 19 as a Juneteenth Freedom Day died in committee in the 2025 legislative session. It was brought by state Sen. Derrick T. Simmons, District 12.



Simmons has introduced a bill to remove the Confederate holiday almost every year he's been in office. Last year, he said he's been hopeful the state is ready to make the change since lawmakers changed the state flag in 2020. The Confederate battle flag was replaced by a magnolia design with the words "In God We Trust."

What other Confederate holidays are still celebrated in Mississippi?

When a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was adopted in the 1980s, Mississippi and Alabama lawmakers opted to add it to an existing holiday honoring Lee. Many states in the South initially adopted this approach. Most, including Lee's home state of Virginia, have since dropped celebrating Lee, who was born on Jan. 19, 1807.

Attempts to separate the holidays through legislation have failed in committee. Mississippi State Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, introduced bills in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The only other state celebrating Robert E. Lee Day and King together is Alabama. Similar bills to separate the celebration of Lee or strike it from the state holiday calendar completely have also failed to pass.

Alabama also has a state holiday for Confederate President Jefferson Davis on the first Monday in June, but Mississippi pairs it with Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. (He was born June 3, 1808.)





Link: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2025/04/23/confederate-memorial-day-a-mississippi-holiday-some-want-to-drop-it/83144767007/

The US government should have hung all the Southern traders at the end of the war. They were homegrown terrorists just like the Republicans today.

 

[Fäthër Cörpsë]

you are a bad faith bitch. Contrarian is stupid. I don’t take positions just because they are unpopular or opposite to others. I think things out for myself and try to stick to certain principles.

I never said I’m 100 percent against logic or common sense. I remember saying common sense isn’t good a finding objective truth because it isn’t, because what is “common sense” to people is subjective and variable.

Suck my dick if you don’t understand that basic point. Again though you’ll never actually address my argument because you a dishonest punk

Now apologize to me and it will all be over.

You review issues and form a position on it, and that just so happens to be contrary to most ppls views? That’s being contrarian.

 

[hedgerow]

The US government should have hung all the Southern traders at the end of the war. They were homegrown terrorists just like the Republicans today.

^ You're a low-down lyin' Yankee!

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

The US government should have hung all the Southern traders at the end of the war. They were homegrown terrorists just like the Republicans today.

Perhaps they should have been hung or perhaps there had been enough bloodshed between Americans at that point. I tend to lean toward the latter.

What I don’t like is that eventually they were fully pardon and they had no restrictions. They got off scot free. We have a tradition of doing that in America. We see that with Trump and the Jan 6th traitors, since you brought up modern Republicans. Pardoned and with Trump not even a day in jail and he’s the president again.

Also another thing I like even less was the former slaves were abandoned. Reconstruction wasn’t competed, They weren’t given land or compensation, white supremacy confirmed as newly freed slaves were disenfranchised, etc.

I can’t say I’m with you with the hanging all the confederate generals and Jefferson Davis’s presidential cabinet and senators and all that. But the two things I stated I find particularly outrageous and how better off America would be now if we had done those two things, particularly the second with black newly American citizens.

 

[Christopher Hitchens]

You review issues and form a position on it, and that just so happens to be contrary to most ppls views? That’s being contrarian.

Ok so I looked up the definition from the dictionary and you are right that as far as the dictionary definition I am a contrarian BUT so is everyone else who’s had an argument or disagreement. See:

Here is what a contrary means:

But I think that the “laymen” definition, which I think is the sense that @Grand Mal Caesar used it, is different than that. That definition is a person who takes a contrary opinion not out of conviction but just for the sake of taking a contrary opinion and having a disagreement or argument. In that “street” definition it’s also a word that’s used with a negative connotation, people don’t call you that as a compliment usually. That’s what I was objecting too but the dictionary definition I am wrong and that would apply.

 

[hedgerow]

my dictionary is better than your dictionary

 

[Grand Mal Caesar]

Ok so I looked up the definition from the dictionary and you are right that as far as the dictionary definition I am a contrarian BUT so is everyone else who’s had an argument or disagreement. See:
View attachment 950885
Here is what a contrary means:
View attachment 950886


But I think that the “laymen” definition, which I think is the sense that @Grand Mal Caesar used it, is different than that. That definition is a person who takes a contrary opinion not out of conviction but just for the sake of taking a contrary opinion and having a disagreement or argument. In that “street” definition it’s also a word that’s used with a negative connotation, people don’t call you that as a compliment usually. That’s what I was objecting too but the dictionary definition I am wrong and that would apply.

That's what I meant. Contrary for the sake of being contrary. aka Trolling.