Sunday, February 8, 2015

Are Confederate soldiers eligible for Florida's Veterans' Hall for Fame?

Via John

 Credit this photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/37123

The Florida Legislature could become the newest battleground in a war that officially ended 150 years ago.

Lawmakers might have to decide if the men who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War are eligible for entry into the state's Veterans' Hall of Fame.

The hall honors "those military veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the State of Florida," according to its website. The question the Legislature could have to answer is who exactly counts as a veteran.

That's because the governor and Cabinet members on Thursday tabled inducting the 2014 class into the hall to wait for "legislative clarification" on three nominees who fought for the Confederacy against the Union.

4 comments:

  1. This will be very telling. Do they believe in their own institution and the Constitution, or do they believe the big, bad, Federals are omnipotent.

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    Replies
    1. We shall see.

      Confederate Veterans/United States Veterans
      http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=333&highlight=pensions+confederate+veterans

      Public Law 85-425: Sec. 410.

      "The Administrator shall pay to each person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have been applicable to such person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, if his service in such forces had been service in the military or naval forces of the United States."

      Approved May 23, 1958 - SOURCE: US Statutes at Large Volume 72, Part 1, Page 133-134.

      United States Statutes at large (85th Congress) Part 1, Volume 72, pages 133-134 (also known as Public Law 85-425)

      Public Law 85-425
      May 23, 1958 | [H. R. 358] 72 Stat. 133

      AN ACT

      To increase the monthly rates of pension payable to widows and former widows of deceased veterans of the Spanish-American War, Civil War, Indian War, and Mexican War, and provide pensions to widows of veterans who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1957 (Public Law 85-56) is amended:

      (1) In section 431, strike out the figure "$52.50" and insert the figure "$65".

      (2) In subsection 432 (a), strike out the figure "$54.18" and insert the figure "$65", and strike out the figure "$67.73" and insert the figure "$75".

      (3) Section 432 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:

      "(e) For the purpose of this section, and section 433, the term 'veteran' includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term `active, military or naval service' includes active service in such forces."

      (4) In section 433, strike out the figure "$48.77" and insert the figure "$73.13".

      (5) In subsection 434 (a), strike out the figure "$54.18" and insert the figure "$65", and strike out the figure "$67.73" and insert the figure "$75".

      (6) In section 435, strike out the figure "$48.77" and insert the figure "$73.13".

      (7) In subsection 436 (a), strike out the figure "$54.18" and insert the figure "$65", and strike out the figure "$67.73" and insert the figure "$75".

      (8) In section 437, strike out the figure "$62.31" and insert the figure "$73.13".

      Approved, May 23, 1958.

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  2. Is the state of Florida worthy of the honor of having the pictures of these veterans grace the walls of the state's Veterans' Hall of Fame? AFAIK, Florida is an honorable state so I believe the answer should be "yes."

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