Save Oakwood Letter Campaign

Some readers may not be aware of the successes and efforts the Sons of Confederate Veterans have made towards honoring the seventeen thousand Confederate soldiers who lie buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. The SCV has already begun the work of restoring the cemetery. There is, however, one unresolved roadblock. Although the state and federal governments are cooperating with the plan to mark all the unmarked graves at Oakwood, the City of Richmond has imposed the discriminatory practice of not allowing the installation of upright markers for the Confederate graves only. The city is hiding behind an unwritten and yet un-produced "policy" against it or states that it will not be historically accurate to mark the graves despite the fact that the Virginia Dept. of Historic Resources has approved the plan. The SCV plan would not only make the cemetery more respectable, it would save the city $30,000 or more in maintenance costs a year, as the SCV will use its own funds and already appropriated state funds (based on a figure from the dept. of parks and recreation). The plan is a win-win for everyone involved. The city will save thousands of dollars, keep ownership of the cemetery, and have a beautified tourist attraction while the SCV fulfills its mission of honoring these fallen soldiers. For some unknown reason, bureaucrats in the mayor's office seem to be trying their best to make sure these graves are never marked. Beyond that, these same bureaucrats have failed to protect the cemetery from vandalism.

See the TV report on the Oakwood plan and vandalism at: http://www.nbc12.com/news/state/8213902.html

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Please send a respectful, well written letter or email to the Richmond Times Dispatch and copy it to the mayor's office questioning why the city has refused to allow Oakwood to be restored. Mayor Wilder is a Korean combat veteran himself and he should understand the importance of honoring our deceased military veterans. Be sure to emphasize the positive benefits of the plan to Richmond such as the tax savings and increased tourism opportunities. Contact information is below:

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Email letters to the editor: letters@timesdispatch.com
Submit by Fax: (include signature): (804) 819-1216.
By Snail-Mail:

Letters to the Editor
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Box 85333
Richmond, Virginia 23293
Tips on submissions can be viewed at: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/submit_letters.html)

Mayor's Office
Mayor L. Douglas Wilder
email: askthemayor@ci.richmond.va.us
or: wilderld@ci.richmond.va.us
fax: 804-646-7987
phone: 804-646-7970
900 E. Broad St.
Room 201
Richmond, VA 23219

In addition, if you are a citizen of the Commonwealth, please contact your delegate and senator and ask them to get involved as well. The will of the people, as represented by the General Assembly's legislation, is apparently being thwarted by Mayor Wilder's office.