In a recent development, House Republicans led by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., have made efforts to prevent the Pentagon from removing a Confederate memorial from Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial, known as the Reconciliation Monument, was targeted for removal by the Pentagon’s Naming Commission, which is responsible for renaming and eliminating military installations named after the Confederacy. The move to remove Confederate statues and art stems from the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020.
However, Clyde and his fellow Republicans argue that the Reconciliation Monument is not a symbol of the Confederacy but instead represents American unity following the Civil War. They claim that removing the memorial would desecrate the graves of Confederate troops buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the lawmakers demanded that the monument remain in place until the end of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process.
The Republicans assert that the Naming Commission overstepped its legislative authority by recommending the removal of the Reconciliation Monument. They argue that the monument does not honor or commemorate the Confederacy but rather signifies reconciliation and national unity. Furthermore, they point out that the commission’s authority explicitly prohibits the desecration of grave sites, and removing the monument would violate Congress’ enacted statute and legislative intent.
Clyde, a Navy combat veteran, has garnered support from 43 other House Republicans, including Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala. The Reconciliation Monument, unveiled in 1914 by then-President Woodrow Wilson, was commissioned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was authorized by Congress for the reinternment of Confederate remains at Arlington National Cemetery.
As part of their efforts to halt the removal process, Republicans are calling for a pause until Congress can reach a funding deal. Clyde has introduced an amendment to the defense spending bill that, if passed, would prevent the statue’s removal altogether. They argue that the Department of Defense must respect Congress’ legislative intentions regarding the Naming Commission’s authority, and moving forward with the removal would be a violation of the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
In addition to the Republicans’ opposition, the Pentagon is facing a lawsuit from a group called Defend Arlington, which represents ancestors of Confederate veterans and others. The group aims to prevent the removal of the Reconciliation Monument. The Pentagon has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
It is worth noting that this controversy is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing debates surrounding Confederate symbols and their place in American society. While some argue that these symbols represent a painful legacy of slavery and racism, others contend that they are part of the country’s history and should be preserved for historical purposes.
As discussions on this issue continue, it remains to be seen how the dispute over the Confederate memorial at Arlington National Cemetery will be resolved.
