The Confederate Memorial

The Confederate Memorial. . , A Divisive History , The history of Section 16 and the Confederate Memorial dates to the turn of the 20th century. Driven by a renewed sense of national unity following the Spanish-American War, in 1900, Congress authorized the reburial of Confederate remains in "some suitable spot" at Arlington National Cemetery. This became Section 16, known at the time as the "Confederate Section." Then-Secretary of War William H. Taft approved the creation of a memorial there, and the project was eventually led by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, an organization of white southern women. The Confederate Memorial was erected in 1914, almost 50 years after the end of the Civil War. Designed by sculptor and Confederate veteran Moses Ezekiel, it presents a nostalgic, mythologized vision of the Confederacy, including highly sanitized depictions of slavery., What is Arlington National Cemetery Doing? , Arlington National Cemetery recognizes the importance of telling this complex and sensitive story. This panel represents just the first step in a long-term process to carefully and accurately interpret the history of the Confederate Memorial and Section 16. Community members and key stakeholders will be involved in this process. Stay tuned for further developments in this ongoing project., To learn more, visit: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Confederate-Memorial., (Photo Captions) , Moses Jacob Ezekiel, designer of the Confederate Memorial, was the first Jewish cadet to attend Virginia Military Institute. He is buried next to the monument., Moses Ezekiel drew this sketch of the memorial around 1910. , Ezekiel Papers, Manuscript 0010, Virginia Military Institute Archives. [Confederate Monument, Arlington National Cemetery], President Woodrow Wilson unveiled the memorial to the public on June 4, 1914. , Library of Congress. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, [LC_DIG-npcc-31774]