NORTH CAROLINA: Town Continues to Weight Options on Downed Confederatre Monument
The Town of Weldon continues to discuss options regarding the Confederate monument that an intoxicated driver had toppled and damaged last month.
On Tuesday, Town Administrator Vincent Connor Winstead Jr. told the Herald there were no updates, and the incident has been referred to the town’s insurance carrier.
“Right now, there’s really no progress,” Connor said. “We’re working with the insurance company to see what our options are, but the town’s made no decision one way or another on it.”
He said the last time he spoke to the insurance adjuster, the company was going to make contact with the driver’s insurance to see what was covered.
On Aug. 6, 25-year-old Solomon Emmanuel Bryant of Roanoke Rapids was intoxicated and driving while under the influence when he hit the monument located in the center of the intersection of Maple and East Ninth streets, knocking it over.
According to research, the monument was 27 feet tall, with a statue of a soldier dressed in a Confederate States of America uniform holding a rifle atop the column. An inscription on the lower section of the column reads, “In memory of the Confederate soldiers and sailors of Halifax and Northampton counties,” with the dates 1861-1865. The monument was erected by the Junius Daniel Chapter with the United Daughters of the Confederacy and was dedicated on Sept. 17, 1908, according to information.
Read the Herald article headlined Intoxicated driver knocks down Confederate monument in Weldon at bit.ly/3PA5mRp.
When asked about the options being weighed, Connor said there are several, which are putting it back up, not putting it back up or moving it.
“I think there are several options that the town could take,” he said. “But right now, pending additional information, we’re not really committed to one particular strategy.”
When asked if the town has received any feedback from residents about what to do with the statue, Connor said it has been fairly quiet but has heard from Beth Zeiss, president of the North Carolina Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and William Edwards with the Sons of Confederate Veterans with interest in the town repairing and/or replacing the monument at its previous location at the entrance to Cedarwood Cemetery.
–rrdailyherald.com
