General and Mrs. J.E.B. Stuart of Civil War fame visited Statesboro on Saturday evening.
    Dressed in full regalia, they gave the crowd at R.J.’s Steakery a history lesson from that era.
    Wayne Jones, of North Augusta, S.C., was the guest speaker at the 13th Annual Lee-Jackson Banquet and gave a stirring monologue as he portrayed the life of Gen. Stuart. Stuart was a “cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use of cavalry in support of offensive operations,” (rozzman1.tripod.com) for the Confederate side. He was also the trusted eyes and ears of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Southern army.
    The program was sponsored by the Ogeechee Rifles Camp #941 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans headquartered in Statesboro. A large crowd attended, and many members were dressed in period uniforms. The purpose of the banquet each year is to celebrate the birthdays of both two Confederate generals — Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.
    The primary focus of Ogeechee Rifles Camp #941 last year was the restoration of the Confederate Monument on Courthouse Square in downtown Statesboro. The monument was erected in 1909 for $2,000. It had stood for more than a century with little maintenance. The camp decided it was time for restoration, so through the generosity of camp members and other local residents, they succeeded in restoring the monument for more than $20,000.
    Roses planted along the outside border of the fence will complete the restoration. Once that has been completed, plans are to rededicate the monument on June 8 while the group hosts the State Convention and Reunion of the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
    During an interview, Jones shared heartfelt answers about the Civil War and his thoughts on why the North-South split occurred.
    “I have always had a lot of interest in history,” Jones said, “where I came from and where I was going. Of course, the more you live in it and work in it, the more likely you become a student of history. I have learned that you’ll never know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.”
    He shared a deep passion for teaching children about how the Civil War shaped America.
    “History is always written by the victors,” Jones said. “Our true responsibility for this and future generations is to get it right and pass it along to our youth.
    “The late President Ronald Reagan made a statement about freedom not being passed down through the DNA of the individual,” he continued. “So we must continually teach our children in order for them to understand how we got to where we are. Our history books will not teach us those things.”
    Jones then turned to the onset of the war.
    “The key proponent behind it was when President Abraham Lincoln sent out a notice of conscription for 75,000 men,” he said. “Lincoln said that these 75,000 would be sent out to bring the Union back together. The war paired neighbors against one another. According to our Constitution at that time, any state had the right to secede from the Union.”
    Secession has received some attention recently, particularly since the November re-election of President Barack Obama. Several states, including Georgia, have seen more than 25,000 residents sign online petitions asking for the right to secede from the Union. So far, none of the petitions has been granted.
    “Taxes, tariffs and eventually the issue of slavery became the governing causes for the start of the Civil War,” Jones said. “Back then, the South was producing between 80-85 percent of the revenues for the nation. Our people were mad and very distraught over the government then asking for our men to fight in a war they just couldn’t support.
    “The war was fought from within the man’s heart, for he had the belief and feeling that made him step forward and endure the hardships he would face during that terrible war that helped define today whom we are,” he continued. “Each man sought to preserve his way of life in the South.”