John Rhodes: Let ‘Silent Sam’ stay

Regarding Dennis Rogers’ Oct. 17 column “Time to move ‘Silent Sam’”: I’m sorry, but I don’t share his views on “Silent Sam.”

He seems to believe Silent Sam is a monument to the Confederate States of America or the Confederate flag, which he is not. He still serves to remind people that about 1,000 students from the University of North Carolina were willing to give their service and lives not to protect slavery, but to defend and protect their state, their homes and their people.

The names of their regiments were North Carolina State Troops, and what they endured for four long years was far worse than anything Rogers endured during his year in Vietnam.

As far as the flag goes, the Stars and Bars were replaced after May 1, 1863, by national flags that did have the Army of Northern Virginia battle flag on them, and they flew over Forts Fisher and Anderson.

I wish I could prevent the use of CSA flags by the groups he referred to, but they also use the U.S. flag. Should we do away with it?

Allow Sam the respect he deserves and to continue to represent the proud men who served this state.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 3:56 PM with the headline "John Rhodes: Let ‘Silent Sam’ stay."