SHAF Statement Regarding the Destruction and Defacing of Civil War Monuments
Antietam, Harpers Ferry, South Mountain and Shepherdstown Battlefields, were scenes of major conflict during the Maryland Campaign of 1862. When these battlefields were recognized as historic sites where thousands of American lives were lost, and many thousands more forever changed, various groups chose to commemorate these places. The first commemoration, arguably, was to create cemeteries, to which the remains of those buried on the field were removed. After many years, statues, monuments and markers were erected to recognize the sacrifice and valor displayed by American soldiers at these sites. SHAF believes that any place Americans fought, bled, and died becomes hallowed ground, and thus are entitled to the solemnity accorded cemeteries. As recently as ten years ago, partial remains of soldiers were discovered on these sacred fields, demonstrating this land is still, essentially, hallowed ground.
We believe removing any vestige of one side on Civil War battlefields would present a distorted version of America’s greatest internal conflict. Rather than remove the commemorative artifacts of previous generations, we need to contextualize and interpret the past to advance education and support preservation. We therefore deplore the vandalizing of any statue or monument on this ground and oppose their removal. We instead call for a more thorough understanding through additional interpretive markers explaining the evolution of societal values and the power of historical memory.
- SHAF Statement Regarding the Destruction and Defacing of Civil War Monuments
(December 20, 2020)
- Film Supports SHAF
(June 17, 2020)
- SHAF Helps Clear Non-Historic Tree lines on ABT Property
(May 26, 2020)
- SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Postponed
(March 28, 2020)
- Next SHAF Workday, March 21, 2020
(March 11, 2020)
- March 21 SHAF Work Day Update
(January 17, 2020)
- SHAF Workday this Saturday, March 30
(October 27, 2019)
- SHAF Save the Dates
(October 13, 2019)
- Next SHAF Work Day, September 28, 2019
(October 8, 2019)
- Save Historic Antietam Foundation Creates Agency Fund
(July 4, 2019)
- Meal Choices for 2019 SHAF Annual Meeting
(April 17, 2019)
- Agenda for General Membership meeting
(October 25, 2018)
- Harsh Award Scholarship to be handed out in 2018
(October 7, 2018)
- Antietam battlefield property transferred to the NPS
(October 2, 2018)
- Next SHAF Workday Scheduled for October 27, 2018
(September 25, 2018)
- Spring 2018 workday rescheduled to Saturday, March 31
(August 23, 2018)
- SHAF is accepting applications for the 2019 Scholarship Award in Honor of Dr. Joseph L. Harsh
(August 18, 2018)
- 2018 Annual Meeting Recap
(August 7, 2018)
- SHAF presented with award by the American Battlefield Trust
(June 18, 2018)
- 2018 Annual Meeting
(April 6, 2018)
- Spring 2018 work day this Saturday, March 24!
(February 25, 2018)
- SHAF Annual Membership Meeting, May 6, 2017
(October 24, 2017)
- Recent changes on the Antietam Battlefield
(October 20, 2017)
- SHAF Fall 2017 Workday
(October 5, 2017)
- SHAF Spring Work Day
(October 25, 2016)
- SHAF Annual Meeting
(October 8, 2016)
- Demolition in North Woods
(January 11, 2016)
- Fall Work Day
(October 6, 2015)
- Preservation Opportunities!
(September 9, 2015)
- Victory for Preservation!
(July 14, 2015)
- SHAF Wins Preservation Award!!
(May 20, 2015)
- Spring Work Day
(March 27, 2015)
- Agenda for general membership meeting
(March 13, 2015)
- General Membership Meeting
(March 5, 2015)
- 2015 Newsletter
(February 23, 2015)
- 2013 Harsh Award Results
(December 8, 2014)
- Inclusion of Shepherdstown Battlefield within the NPS system
(September 9, 2014)
- August 2013 Newsletter
(August 15, 2013)
- Help Wanted!
(September 2, 2012)
- Speakers Seminar & Harsh Scholar Award September 8th
(August 20, 2012)
Antietam, Harpers Ferry, South Mountain and Shepherdstown Battlefields, were scenes of major conflict during the Maryland Campaign of 1862. When these battlefields were recognized as historic sites where thousands of American lives were lost, and many thousands more forever changed, various groups chose to commemorate these places. The first commemoration, arguably, was to create cemeteries, to which the remains of those buried on the field were removed. After many years, statues, monuments and markers were erected to recognize the sacrifice and valor displayed by American soldiers at these sites. SHAF believes that any place Americans fought, bled, and died becomes hallowed ground, and thus are entitled to the solemnity accorded cemeteries. As recently as ten years ago, partial remains of soldiers were discovered on these sacred fields, demonstrating this land is still, essentially, hallowed ground.
We believe removing any vestige of one side on Civil War battlefields would present a distorted version of America’s greatest internal conflict. Rather than remove the commemorative artifacts of previous generations, we need to contextualize and interpret the past to advance education and support preservation. We therefore deplore the vandalizing of any statue or monument on this ground and oppose their removal. We instead call for a more thorough understanding through additional interpretive markers explaining the evolution of societal values and the power of historical memory.
- SHAF Statement Regarding the Destruction and Defacing of Civil War Monuments
(December 20, 2020) - Film Supports SHAF
(June 17, 2020) - SHAF Helps Clear Non-Historic Tree lines on ABT Property
(May 26, 2020) - SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Postponed
(March 28, 2020) - Next SHAF Workday, March 21, 2020
(March 11, 2020) - March 21 SHAF Work Day Update
(January 17, 2020) - SHAF Workday this Saturday, March 30
(October 27, 2019) - SHAF Save the Dates
(October 13, 2019) - Next SHAF Work Day, September 28, 2019
(October 8, 2019) - Save Historic Antietam Foundation Creates Agency Fund
(July 4, 2019) - Meal Choices for 2019 SHAF Annual Meeting
(April 17, 2019) - Agenda for General Membership meeting
(October 25, 2018) - Harsh Award Scholarship to be handed out in 2018
(October 7, 2018) - Antietam battlefield property transferred to the NPS
(October 2, 2018) - Next SHAF Workday Scheduled for October 27, 2018
(September 25, 2018) - Spring 2018 workday rescheduled to Saturday, March 31
(August 23, 2018) - SHAF is accepting applications for the 2019 Scholarship Award in Honor of Dr. Joseph L. Harsh
(August 18, 2018) - 2018 Annual Meeting Recap
(August 7, 2018) - SHAF presented with award by the American Battlefield Trust
(June 18, 2018) - 2018 Annual Meeting
(April 6, 2018) - Spring 2018 work day this Saturday, March 24!
(February 25, 2018) - SHAF Annual Membership Meeting, May 6, 2017
(October 24, 2017) - Recent changes on the Antietam Battlefield
(October 20, 2017) - SHAF Fall 2017 Workday
(October 5, 2017) - SHAF Spring Work Day
(October 25, 2016) - SHAF Annual Meeting
(October 8, 2016) - Demolition in North Woods
(January 11, 2016) - Fall Work Day
(October 6, 2015) - Preservation Opportunities!
(September 9, 2015) - Victory for Preservation!
(July 14, 2015) - SHAF Wins Preservation Award!!
(May 20, 2015) - Spring Work Day
(March 27, 2015) - Agenda for general membership meeting
(March 13, 2015) - General Membership Meeting
(March 5, 2015) - 2015 Newsletter
(February 23, 2015) - 2013 Harsh Award Results
(December 8, 2014) - Inclusion of Shepherdstown Battlefield within the NPS system
(September 9, 2014) - August 2013 Newsletter
(August 15, 2013) - Help Wanted!
(September 2, 2012) - Speakers Seminar & Harsh Scholar Award September 8th
(August 20, 2012)