new thread
I hope I remember correct and you are the one who was wondering
about long hair at your Civil War reinactments. I went to the
one that I usually go to annually a week ago and there was some
good hair there. There was the same young confederate with
waist length hair. The majority of the ones with long hair seem
to be confederates. Don't know if its the same where you are.
Maybe because long hair is equated with rebellion?
I'm in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and there
are a number of guys with long hair. I'm not the only one.
We are not a re-enacment group, rather we honor our descendents
who served in the civil war.
We are in the north, not the confederates.
"Preserving the Memory of the Grand Army of the Republic
and our Ancestors who Fought to Preserve the Union
1861 - 1865"
It should be noted there are many re-enactros, civil war
round tables, and groups like the Zouaves. And lots
of history buffs.
This marks the 150th anniversary of the civil war. It's a once
in a lifetime oppurtunity to mark the anniversry, it's probably
a safe bet I won't be alive for the 200th. (I'm 57 years old.)
I seriously doubt that I will be here for the 200th also. And
you are correct that there are numerous groups. There were several involved in the event I attended but there are probably
many more organizations in the east (where you are) than in
northern California where I am.
I'm definitely a Civil War buff (I dislike the word "buff", prefer
amatuer historian better) so I am well aware of the signifigance
of the current times. I'm also pretty heavy into WW II but
there's no long hair connection there (in order to keep a
connection to the purpose of this board). I don't think there are any local Civil War round tables around here.
Actually California has a large number of members
as does New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and others.
I'm a history buff which covers lots of years, lots of things
throughout those years. I don't mind being called a history
buff, after this is the history of this great country we
are remembering and honoring.
Actually there is a long hair connection to World War 2.
One of the things the Nazis did when they put the jews in the
camps is take away all their clothes, take away their
houses, take away their businesses, and shave their heads.
I'm jewish and back in may I went to the Holocaust museum and
even with all I've read about world war 2 I still wasn't prepared for what you see at the Holocaust museum.
The hair in World War wasn't long but there still is a very real
connection.
I would also point out the average age of the organization is
probably about 75, so at 57 i'm one of the younger members. With that average age I was expecting lots of hassles about my hair. when I joined the organization, that hassle never happened
so I and a bunch of other guys populate the organization with
our long hair. You can call it one of the advantages
of getting old.
As far a civil war roundtable, search on the web, there is
a long list of round tables around the nation.
HA! Yes, one of the few advantages. When you are a teenager
your appearance to your peers is one of your life's major
concerns. As your get older you don't give a damn what others
think about your style of clothes or the length of hair. With
me of course the more pressure I got to cut my hair the more
determined I was to grow longer.
Actually you'd be surprised at how many California has.
We just had our National Encampment this past weekend
in California and the state of California (the host state)
had a huge delegation. Also it should be pointed out
that many from California traveled east in the civil war
and fought along side those of other states.
(If you're in California visit the Drum Barrackes in LA to
learn about tho9e in California who traveled to Massachusetts
to fight in the Civil War. But do no underestimate the contribution your state made to the civil war.
When it comes to the Civil War California has lot of rich
history, what is sad is very little of it is being preserved.
(Look at Drum Barracks and what was there in the Civil War and
how little is left. And even that little bit the city
is determined to get rid of.
It's sad, this is the history of our great nation and it's sad
how little of that history is left.
And what is even sadder California schools are not teaching
the civil war any more. Apparrently they now teach very llttle if any history in schools now.
In regards to hair, at the encampment I was not the only
guy with long hair, there was one other. It should be noted that both of us guys has hair that was longer than
any of the women (The Allied order include several women's groups.)
I wore my hair down (not in a pony tail) and got no complaints from anyone. The other guy has his hair in a braid.