Glad to have met you sir

From: Ed Hyland [mailto:elhyland@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009

Thank you for your unique mission and for taking the time to introduce me to it this week along the highway outside of Silva, N.C. Several couples in our Sunday School class were spending a few days around the turn of the new year at a lodge in that area when we drove by you standing along the highway in a full Confederate uniform and holding up the Confederate battle flag. Since I was driving I didn't notice you, but my wife commented about you as we passed. Not understanding what she described I made a U-turn and then another to come and meet you.

I'd never heard of any black person express support for the Confederacy, but as you explained to me that your ancestor had fought for the South I recalled knowing that many blacks fought beside whites for the Confederacy. I therefore had no difficulty understanding how your heritage could include a love for the South and the flag that has represented it over the years. It is unfortunate that many whites and blacks have used the Confederate flag to drive our races apart. But you are a champion trying to do just the opposite.

Our nation has just elected our first black president and I have thought how wonderful it might be if many who thus far have considered themselves to be African Americans may now feel more ownership in our nation, enough to instead consider themselves to be Americans. I hope that among other improvements that President Obama will lead us to and through, we can come together as God's people in America no matter what our skin color may be. You Mr. Edgerton and your unique way of demonstrating it, may be just the key to doing that.

May God grant you success toward that end.

Ed Hyland