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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Georgia doesn't celebrate anything but King day to my knowledge.  I had
never heard of it until a few years ago when my Alabama friend mentioned
Lee Day.  I am not sure if she still calls it Lee Day or Lee Jackson
Day, but I do believe they celebrate it on MLK Day, not on Friday.
There may still be some variation on the name and when it is celebrated.
A few months back I read something about calling it Southern Heritage
Day, and I really like that.  That is inclusive, non partisan, and
something no one mistakes.  Lee and Jackson were patriots and state's
right's advocates.  King was a teacher of non-violent protest and a
great inspirational leader.  These great Americans were all from the
South, all true heroes.

Robert Walton wrote:
> Today is Lee Jackson day in Virginia. A few years back it got 
> separated from Martin Luther King day which is Monday. Being an 
> admirer of history, both, I think, are great holidays. Sometimes 
> Virginia gets flack from those who do not really understand Southern 
> pride or history. Coming here from a state like Florida, that is 
> largely controlled by northerners, I really appreciate Virginia's nod
>  to our history.
>
> I found this old blog archive this morning and found it very
> interesting: http://www.redpolka.org/blog/archives/001386.html
>
> In a wonderful twist of historic irony we have Lee, Jackson, & King 
> celebrated at the same time. While many smear & demonize all things 
> Southern & all things Confederate, it is worth noting htat Lee & 
> Jackson opposed the institution of slavery.
>
> In an 1856 letter to President Pierce Lee stated that "there are few,
>  I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that 
> slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil. Their 
> emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences 
> of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy.
>  This influence, though slow, is sure".
>
> Virginia didn't seceed until after Lincoln called an Army to invade 
> the cotton states. In a letter to his daughter, Lee wrote "With all
> my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an 
> American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my
>  hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore 
> resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native 
> State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be 
> needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword."
>
> After the war Lee said "all the South has ever desired was that the 
> Union, as established by our Forefathers, should be preserved and
> that the government, as originally organized, should be administered
> in purity and truth" and that "Had I known what use those people
> would make of their victory, there would have been no surrender at 
> Appomattox…I would have preferred to die beside my men, my sword in
> my good right hand."
>
> Jackson held similar views towards the institution of slavery. This 
> incredibly law-abiding man broke the law every Sunday by teaching 
> slaves and free blacks how to read. In 1855, he spearheaded the
> effort to hold classes every Sunday at 3:00 in Lexington, Virginia's 
> Presbyterian Church. Historian Dr. James Robertson notes that, "In 
> Jackson's mind, slaves were children of God placed in subordinate 
> situations for reasons only the Creator could explain. Helping them 
> was a missionary effort for Jackson. Their souls had to be saved. 
> Although Jackson could not alter the social status of slaves, he
> could and did display Christian decency to those whose lot it was to
> be in bondage…he was emphatically the black man's friend." In fact,
> after the Battle of Manassas, Jackson realized he forgot to send his 
> offering to the black school. Expecting news of the war, worshipers
> at the church opened Jackson's letter only to read, "In my tent last 
> night, after a fatiguing day's service, I remembered that I failed to
>  send a contribution for our colored Sunday school. Enclosed you will
>  find a check for that object, which please acknowledge at your 
> earliest convenience and oblige yours faithfully."
>
>
> Historian R.G. Williams summarized that "General Stonewall Jackson 
> was, without question, one of the greatest generals America ever 
> produced. He was fearless in battle and his legendary 'Valley 
> Campaign' fought in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is still
> studied to this day. But more than that, he was a devout Christian
> and a lover of all good men – regardless of their color. Southerners
> and lovers of truth should do everything possible to educate future
> generations about the truth of our history, especially when it comes
> to the heroes of our faith and of our beloved Southland. Only in
> truth can we worship the Creator of all men. "


--
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will
not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius
will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the
world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone
are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve
the problems of the human race"

~ Calvin Coolidge