FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Garland–Rodes Camp #409 of Lynchburg, Va. proudly announce the latest camp project to--erect a permanent monument honoring Confederate General Jubal A. Early in Middletown, Va., on the site of the 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek.

Negotiations are now actively underway with the Town of Middletown to locate it in a proposed park just off Route 11 in Middletown, ground on which Gen. Early most certainly fought upon and where hundreds of young patriots lost their lives. Camp Commander Brian Giles said, “Gen. Early was in command of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle of Cedar Creek and his heroic effort to destroy Union General Phillip Sheridan’s forces after the “burning” of the Shenandoah Valley has never been forgotten by the Southern people; therefore he needs to make his stand once again only this time in stone and bronze in recognition of our Southern heritage and culture.”

Camp Commander Giles, a Lynchburg resident, readily admits that there is no monument honoring Gen. Early, also a long time resident of Lynchburg after the war, standing on any civil war battlefield. But, with the help of the Garland–Rodes Camp, this will soon be corrected.

Gary Casteel of Lexington, Va., a noted historical sculptor, has been commissioned by the Garland–Rodes Camp to prepare the sculpture and work with the camp and the Town of Middletown to erect the monument. The stone and bronze memorial will consist of a life size bronze bas-relief of Gen. Early attached to a standing gray granite slab on a base stone. Engraved into the rear of the stone will be a short history of the Confederate forces’ actions during the Battle of Cedar Creek.

The conceptual proposal being reviewed by the Town of Middletown for a memorial park would contain walking paths, shaded landscaping and the Gen. Early monument on land that has been already been zoned for development. Mayor Mark Brown received an overwhelming positive response from the Town Council for the monument erection during a recent council meeting. The Mayor stated that he was more than happy to see Gen. Early return to Middletown, and this time to stay.

A fund raising program is currently in progress by the Garland–Rodes Camp with an undetermined unveiling date at this time. However, they hope to have the project completed with an official unveiling ceremony during the American Civil War Sesquicentennial 2011 – 2015. For more information or to make a donation, contact the Garland–Rodes SCV Camp #409, Lynchburg, Va., Commander Brian Giles, to "scv3rdbrigade@yahoo.com"_ or 434-942-8075.