David.....I'd say it's just another PC editorial by another PC writer. I've never known many Southerners refer to Manassas as Bull Run. And how can the history and heritage of the WBTS happen without Confederate flags? Not 'rebel flags". My people didn't rebel, they defended. What a great time to explain to those less informed about the many battleflags that were used during the war. And a great time explain the difference in the flags so proudly displayed in the 1860s compared to the flags so vehemently displayed in the 1960s. As far as what Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell proclaimed, I go with his first statement. Everything after that was nothing but pandering and bowing to political pressure and coercion. It was like a kid saying he is sorry with his fingers crossed behind his back. I attended the 145th Anniversary Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina last month. Myself and about 4000 other reenactors played to a crowd of 54,000 spectators. There were white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Italian, Native American, young, old, male and female. There were scout groups, school groups, and church groups. Now I'd have to say that if 54,000 tickets were sold for a reenactment in "middle of no where" North Carolina that SOMEBODY is damn interested in what happened in the 1860s and in that war. I didn't hear a cross word or a smart a** comment from a single person I encountered. I answered a lot of questions and got a lot of "thank you"s and "we're glad you could come do this". But I never heard a single derogatory comment from any spectator or participant. Obviously there are a lot of people that are interested in what happened back in those days and it's those people that will keep this history alive for future generations. I'm mighty proud to be a part of that and I am looking forward to the sesquincentennial. School is in session.

Keith