File:William Beard Judge Advocate-in-Chief SCV to Donald DeLue Sculptor December 31, 1964 (82cd6970-a2e7-4997-a45b-fae4446c3660).jpg

White paper with typed black text

Mr. Donald De Lue 82 Highland Avenue Leonardo, New Jersey Dear Mr. De Lue: Last night and this morning I had telephone conversations with Miss Franklin in regard to the inscription with respect to Walter Washington Williams. This afternoon I telephoned Mr. Kittridge A. Wing, Superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Wing stated that he and Mr. Lee from the U.S. Department of the Interior were of the opinion that the inscription should read as follows: “WALTER WASHINGTON WILLIAMS, WHO WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS THE LAST SURVIVING CONFEDERATE VETERAN, DIED 1959 AT THE AGE OF 117 YEARS.” I hope that this will not inconvenience you. Mr. Wing is anxious to see the statue and hopes that sometime before Spring that he can call and see it. I told him to let me know when he is coming and I would meet him and go with him to see the statue. I explained to him that the statue was the most impressive, moving and marvelous statue of this kind I had ever seen and that I knew he would be delighted with it – that the statue was the Confederate Soldier in action in bronze. With Every Good Wish for a Most Happy, Healthful and Prosperous New Year! Most sincerely yours, William M. Beard Judge Advocate-in-Chief

• Keywords: gettysburg; battlfield; education; virtual experience; photography; monuments; memorials