Comments on: Why Are We Forgetting To Order the Pedestals? http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/ Reflections of a High School History Teacher & Civil War Historian Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:20:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12698 Kevin Levin Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:44:30 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12698 You are absolutely right. Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. You've got a nice website yourself. You are absolutely right. Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. You've got a nice website yourself.

]]> By: Dave Pelland http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12697 Dave Pelland Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:30:43 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12697 Like neckties, hemlines and sideburns, monuments reflect the fashions of the eras in which they are dedicated. At Gettysburg, the 1960s monuments along West Confederate Avenue clearly reflect a different aesthetic than the 1880s regimental monuments that line Hancock Avenue. Similarly, today's monuments, which skew toward the impressive (if hard to photograph) polished black granite, will eventually fall out of favor as future generations decide to honor the significant achievements of their era. <br><br>As for Longstreet, I would have preferred a larger horse, but understand why the model displayed in the new Visitors' Center museum wouldn't have built today. Like neckties, hemlines and sideburns, monuments reflect the fashions of the eras in which they are dedicated. At Gettysburg, the 1960s monuments along West Confederate Avenue clearly reflect a different aesthetic than the 1880s regimental monuments that line Hancock Avenue. Similarly, today's monuments, which skew toward the impressive (if hard to photograph) polished black granite, will eventually fall out of favor as future generations decide to honor the significant achievements of their era.

As for Longstreet, I would have preferred a larger horse, but understand why the model displayed in the new Visitors' Center museum wouldn't have built today.

]]> By: Dave Pelland http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12444 Dave Pelland Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:30:43 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12444 Like neckties, hemlines and sideburns, monuments reflect the fashions of the eras in which they are dedicated. At Gettysburg, the 1960s monuments along West Confederate Avenue clearly reflect a different aesthetic than the 1880s regimental monuments that line Hancock Avenue. Similarly, today's monuments, which skew toward the impressive (if hard to photograph) polished black granite, will eventually fall out of favor as future generations decide to honor the significant achievements of their era. <br><br>As for Longstreet, I would have preferred a larger horse, but understand why the model displayed in the new Visitors' Center museum wouldn't have built today. Like neckties, hemlines and sideburns, monuments reflect the fashions of the eras in which they are dedicated. At Gettysburg, the 1960s monuments along West Confederate Avenue clearly reflect a different aesthetic than the 1880s regimental monuments that line Hancock Avenue. Similarly, today's monuments, which skew toward the impressive (if hard to photograph) polished black granite, will eventually fall out of favor as future generations decide to honor the significant achievements of their era.

As for Longstreet, I would have preferred a larger horse, but understand why the model displayed in the new Visitors' Center museum wouldn't have built today.

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12424 Kevin Levin Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:36:12 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12424 Thanks for the comment. That sounds convincing to me. Thanks for the comment. That sounds convincing to me.

]]> By: margaretdblough http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12421 margaretdblough Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:51:30 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12421 It was never intended that this statue include a pedestal. I saw the maquette (sp?) (a miniature version of the proposed statue) when it was unveiled at the first Longstreet Memorial Fund Symposium in Gettysburg in September 1995. It didn't have a pedestal from the beginning. As William Garrett Piston, whose book "Lee's Tarnished Lieutenant" inspired the project said at the dedication, "It does not mean trying to put Longstreet on a pedestal above other people, but returning him to the pantheon of Civil War heroes who deserve to be admired. . . .NOTHING could be more fitting then, that this statue of James Longstreet which we dedicate today REST NOT on a pedestal of myth and marble, but on the solid ground of reality." (Dr. Piston did not read from a prepared text; the text that is in the Book of Honor that the LMF published after the dedication was transcribed by a friend of mine Maripat Grams from the PCN broadcast of the dedication ceremony because she was so impressed by his speech.)<br><br>I'm glad you like the statue. I do and so do the Longstreet descendants who were there in force at the dedication. It was never intended that this statue include a pedestal. I saw the maquette (sp?) (a miniature version of the proposed statue) when it was unveiled at the first Longstreet Memorial Fund Symposium in Gettysburg in September 1995. It didn't have a pedestal from the beginning. As William Garrett Piston, whose book “Lee's Tarnished Lieutenant” inspired the project said at the dedication, “It does not mean trying to put Longstreet on a pedestal above other people, but returning him to the pantheon of Civil War heroes who deserve to be admired. . . .NOTHING could be more fitting then, that this statue of James Longstreet which we dedicate today REST NOT on a pedestal of myth and marble, but on the solid ground of reality.” (Dr. Piston did not read from a prepared text; the text that is in the Book of Honor that the LMF published after the dedication was transcribed by a friend of mine Maripat Grams from the PCN broadcast of the dedication ceremony because she was so impressed by his speech.)

I'm glad you like the statue. I do and so do the Longstreet descendants who were there in force at the dedication.

]]> By: margaretdblough http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12420 margaretdblough Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:38:27 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12420 You're wrong. None of what you discuss was done to save money. I was very involved in the project. The only thing that involved money issues was that they initially looked into using the design approved by Helen Longstreet. That design would have cost an inordinate amount of money to do nearly 50 years later. You're wrong. None of what you discuss was done to save money. I was very involved in the project. The only thing that involved money issues was that they initially looked into using the design approved by Helen Longstreet. That design would have cost an inordinate amount of money to do nearly 50 years later.

]]> By: ericwittenberg http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12417 ericwittenberg Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:15:43 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12417 Yep, that would be the one..... Yep, that would be the one…..

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12416 Kevin Levin Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12416 Yep...I love it for that very reason - history and popular culture meet. Yep…I love it for that very reason – history and popular culture meet.

]]> By: Leonard Lanier http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12415 Leonard Lanier Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:15:57 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12415 You mean the statue of Tom Berenger that looks like a monument to James Longstreet, right? You mean the statue of Tom Berenger that looks like a monument to James Longstreet, right?

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/23/why-are-we-forgetting-to-order-the-pedestals/#comment-12414 Kevin Levin Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:10:53 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5575#comment-12414 That's funny because I actually like that statue. To each his own. I didn't realize that it was originally supposed to include a pedestal. Thanks. That's funny because I actually like that statue. To each his own. I didn't realize that it was originally supposed to include a pedestal. Thanks.

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