VMI- Maggie Sands

I had no idea how many memorials there were on VMI's campus. The Memorial Park was really pretty, and I thought it was interesting how both of the memorials in that space were commemorating groups of people rather than individuals. It is funny how the one that looked like David was not even created with VMI in mind, but the message of the strength of youth matched both art commissions' expectations. The other one commemorating anyone who serves VMI in some capacity is also meant to commemorate a large group.

In terms of orientation, I thought it was interesting how the French cannons faced the Memorial Park and the building. Although it makes sense that the cannon was there first, it seems odd to point something symbolic of destruction at a place commemorating members of the community. Colonel Gibson also mentioned that the George Washington statue intentionally faced the direction that it does because that used to be the primary entrance to the cadet dorms. It was interesting how Washington was portrayed as a citizen soldier because this differs from most of the other memorials we have looked at with men in their military attire (Stonewall Jackson, Marshall, etc.). It also fits with the purpose of VMI, which is to produce citizen soldiers.

Finally, I thought it was extremely interesting that the statue of the superintendent during the Civil War is being called out as a Confederate memorial, yet there is no mention of the Stonewall Jackson statue or even the mural inside the chapel. The statue of the superintendent does not have a confederate flag or any other signs of confederate regalia, and does not even mention the Civil War. Instead, it focuses on his work as head of VMI, and the fact that he was the first to hand out bibles to the students. On the other hand, the mural on the wall of the chapel depicts a Confederate victory by VMI cadets. While I wouldn't necessarily say that this glorifies the Confederacy and rather commemorates the young men who stepped up to fight when needed, I could see the mural posing much more of a problem than the superintendent statue.