Features Editor

The month of April has been designated as a time to pay tribute to those who fought for and those who died for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

At 2 p.m. Monday on the square in downtown Troy, the Augustus Braddy Camp 385 of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans (SCV) will present a program of recognition and tribute to the sons of the Confederacy. The public is invited.

"These men believed in the cause they were fighting for and they should be recognized just like any others who fought for a cause they believed to be just," said Michael Berry, commander of Camp 385. "The purpose of Confederate Memorial Day is to pay tribute to our ancestors who fought in the Civil War and the purpose of the SCV is to let people know the truth about our heritage. The truth is that the Civil War was not fought over slavery. There were white people, black people and American Indians fighting for the Confederacy. The Civil War was fought over state’s rights. It was fought so that states would have certain rights and control over things that affected their people. It was fought to protect Southern states from being overtaken by big government. That’s what people need to know."

Berry said the men and boys who believe in state’s rights, gladly took up arms against the Union army and were willing to risk their lives to protect the belief.

When it came time to fight for this cause, Berry said,

the men and boys of the Confederacy volunteered and "kept walking."

"They didn’t ask for someone to go in their places," he said. "They believed what they were doing was the right thing and they believed it was their duty to see it through."

On Monday, the SCV and Daughters of the Confederate Veterans will join to pay tribute to the Confederate soldiers.

Ronnie Simmons, a former state commander of the SCV, will be the featured speaker for the event.

Berry said he is not sure exactly how many Confederate veterans there are in Pike County.

"Back then, Pike was a very big county and included parts of other counties, like Coffee, Dale, Barbour and Bullock," he said. "So, some of those who fought as Pike Countians were later a part of another county. It would be difficult to know exactly how many there were."

Berry added, however, if there were only one, he should still be remembered for putting his life on the line protecting a cause in which he believed.