Flagging Report...Flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Flagging the VMFA - Thursday, April 5th - 15 Flaggers headed out to the Boulevard to forward the colors and protest the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the portico of the Confederate Memorial Chapel. Flagger Jimmy Creech unveiled the new "Flagging Cart", complete with a variety of snacks and amenities!





It was a chilly afternoon and traffic was light, but the last hour was very interesting, with a young man who was very agitated and very vocal and tested our discussion/debating skills and patience!



Have you called/emailed the VMFA today?
Tell them to...
RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
vaflagger@comcast.net

Flagging Report...Flagging the VMFA - Week 19!

Week 19 of Flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts began with an incredible day on the Boulevard.

We had a total of 18 Flaggers out in the beautiful late January weather and were able to position Flaggers at every entrance and key position around the museum.

Foot and auto traffic was very heavy and supporters FAR outnumbered our opposition! Many people pulled over in their cars to offer support and encouragement. So many people asked for additional flyers to take to friends that we actually RAN OUT!

My favorite conversation was with two elderly ladies who pulled over right in front of the main entrance. They told us that they had lived in the neighborhood all of their lives and used to visit the old soldiers on their way home from school. They were shocked to learn what the VMFA had done, took a handful of flyers, and promised to distribute them to friends and neighbors and call the VMFA to let them know how they feel.

Many, many, more good conversations were held, changing hearts and minds and giving the public an education on our flags and our Heritage. We understand that the Museum's phone lines were flooded with phone calls that afternoon, as well.


In addition, a bill has been introduced to the Virginia General Assembly that will designate the Pelham Chapel as an official State War Memorial, and includes language to replace the flags. We are seeing huge dividends from our efforts and I cannot say enough about the over 150 different folks who have joined us in the efforts to restore the Confederate Battle Flags to the Pelham Chapel.

Our next flagging will be this Wednesday, February 1st, from 3:00 pm to dusk. Join us on the Boulevard! If you are unable to attend, please make a phone call to the VMFA during those hours. Call (804)340-1500, press 2, then 1...hold on...someone will answer! Ask them to return the Battle Flags to the Pelham Chapel.

I have been asked frequently when we are going to be done with the flagging and my answer has not changed in 19 weeks...WHEN THE FLAGS GO BACK UP!!

More pics here... http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150559433754274.432842.698334273&type=3

God bless the Virginia Flaggers!

RETURN the flags!
RESTORE the honor!

See you on the Boulevard!

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
vaflagger@comcast.net

Flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Week 6

Flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Week 6 – Midweek Flagging – Wednesday 11-9-11 1:00pm - 5:00 pm

Beautiful day in the Capital of the Confederacy for flagging on the Boulevard! Va Flaggers Susan Hathaway, Grayson Jennings, Tripp Lewis, Fred Merridew , and Darryl Stearns were joined by a surprise flagger from Culpeper: Capt. S.B. Dunn, of the 14th VA Cavalry, Co H, - Rockbridge Dragoons – who brought orders from his commander to stand with us and see to our safety.

We held two positions today…with one group flagging directly in front of the Executive offices and original entrance, and another taking position at the main entrance. The pedestrian traffic was slow at first, but picked up as the evening approached. We had many good conversations, explaining why we were out and what the VMFA had done. As usual, most people were unaware of the situation and many promised to call the VMFA and let them know they believe the flags should go back up. We gave out approx. 30 flyers, and, once again, Confederate flags were seen on the Boulevard by hundreds of pedestrians and passers by!

This week has seen a sharp increase in pressure and publicity. Monday, the Times-Dispatch published our editorial, which has gotten the attention of many people throughout the area. 6 weeks of flagging has many people stopping to see what is going on and why we are out there so often, and certainly has let the VMFA know that we are not going away!

We need to keep up the pressure – from ALL sides! Join us Saturday…we will be flagging from 11-3…. Make phone calls to the VMFA: (804) 340-1400… Tell them you want to talk to someone about getting the Confederate flags put back on the Pelham Chapel… Write the director of the VMFA, the Governor, and the Mayor of Richmond… Write an editorial to your local paper…and SPREAD THE WORD…share this album, email your SCV or UDC friends, talk about it at meetings. Momentum is on our side RIGHT NOW and we need to strike while the iron is HOT!

Flagging the VMFA - Week 4

The ‎4th consecutive Saturday of Flagging the VMFA brought a slightly cooler, but still beautiful Saturday in Richmond. A surprise visit from C.C. Lesters, all the way from Ft. Lauderdale, and Tripp Lewis and his beautiful family, brought our largest crowd of Flaggers to date.

Reaction was mostly positive today. Most people we chat with are unaware of the situation with the Battle Flags at the Pelham Chapel. We had a chance to discuss it with several folks, and distributed literature that details the situation and why we are on the streets with Confederate flags. Several people commented that they had seen us out here every Saturday and finally came out to ask us what was going on. It may be that they figured out we are not going away!

This Friday, October 28th, we are planning to stage an all-day flagging, hoping for enough flaggers to cover the block surrounding the VMFA from one end to the other. Ya'll come!

Virginia Flagger
Susan Frise Hathaway

Flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Week 3

VERY windy in Richmond, Virginia Saturday, October 15th, but the sun was shining on Va Flaggers Grayson Jennings, Tripp Lewis and Susan Hathaway as we headed out for another day of flagging the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
From 11:00 am- 3:00 pm, we walked the sidewalk surrounding the Chapel and Museum and spoke with a good number of people.

The highlight was a couple who were going to the museum until they heard that the folks there had forced the SCV to remove the battle flags from the Chapel. They were furious and turned around and went to visit the Chapel, instead.

One employee from the museum stopped and talked with us. He took a flyer in with him, so we got at least one inside the building.

Everyone we talked to today was supportive and most had no idea what had been happening. One young man took our information and wants to join us next week.

This very nice lady talked to us for a good while, asked a lot of questions and agreed that the flag should not come down.



All in all, a very successful afternoon in the Capital of the Confederacy, with flags flapping in the breeze for hundreds to see, and good discussions and literature distribution to help raise awareness about the Virginia Museum of Fine Art's attack on the honor and memory of our Confederate ancestors.