While viewing the paper recently I ran across a letter honoring our Confederate dead, and a reply to the letter saying why the Confederate dead should not be honored.

As with anything controversial, the polarization of the two letters shows how deeply we are still divided over that defining conflict. So as the great-great-grandson of a Confederate veteran, let me proffer my views. To the fellow not wanting to value the service of Confederate soldiers, let me assure him that very few, if any, owned slaves. ...

Pvt. Sidney Elije McCall, of Company A, 18th North Carolina Infantry, was my great-great-grandfather. He was in five engagements in that war and was killed at Antietam while rushing into battle after a forced march. He left behind a wife and two children. He was drafted into the Confederate Army and had no choice other than to serve. ...

McCall was the average soldier in the Civil War; he was a non-slave owner, a farmer in his early 30s and was compelled to serve his state. He did so bravely and honorably. To not honor him for his service to his family and to his state is to devalue him as a human being. His shed blood is as precious to me and my family as it is to anyone losing a loved one in any war. ...

More than 600,000 men did not come home from the Civil War. All need to be honored for their service despite the division of sides. Let us honor both sides and never forget. ...

As I close here let us all take time to pause and honor those who gave the ultimate devotion of their lives so that we might live as a nation. Let it go, let it be, let us honor all of our war dead. ... Honor your past; love your family and each other.

Mark McCall, Ph.D, Augusta