A close-up look at Birmingham's embattled Confederate monument

Via Billy

The Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Birmingham's Linn Park is at the center of controversy but have you ever stopped to take a close look at it?

The Birmingham Park and Recreation Board voted Wednesday to have lawyers determine if the monument could be legally removed from the park.

Hundreds of people walk past the monument, which stands at the southern entrance to the park, daily. Motorists pass a few yards away on Park Place. It is a favorite roost for a flock of pigeons.

The monument has stood in the park for 110 years but the cornerstone was placed 11 years earlier in 1894. The structure was not completed and dedicated until April 26, 1905, Confederate Decoration Day.

It is a simple 52-foot sandstone obelisk. Two faces have relief sculptures. A musket and crossed sabers on the east face honor Confederate soldiers. An anchor on the west face honors Confederate sailors.

The inscription on the south face reads:

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