General Robert E

General Robert E. Lee: Hero or Traitor?

THE STEPHEN DILL LEE INSTITUTE PRESENTS

THE ROBERT E. LEE BICENTENNIAL SYMPOSIUM

APRIL 28, 2007

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

2007 marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee, one of America’s most revered individuals, once esteemed in the North by his former enemies, as in the South. But opinions are changing in this era of Political Correctness. Was Lee a hero whose valour and leadership were surpassed only by his honour and humanity? Or, as some suggest today, was he a traitor whose military skill served a bad cause and prolonged an immoral rebellion against his rightful government?

The Stephen Dill Lee Institute will explore these questions and Lee’s incomparable legacy in a Bicentennial Symposium on Saturday, April 28, 2007, in Arlington, Virginia, where Lee lived until he departed to join the Confederacy and later took command of the famed Army of Northern Virginia, never to return.

To many, Robert E. Lee is a remote figure, a marble icon. To others he was simply a great battlefield commander. But Lee was much more; his character shines brightly from the past, illuminating the present. The Symposium will cover Lee the man, his views on government and liberty, his humane attitudes toward race and slavery, Lee and the American Union, Lee as inspired commander and his relationship with the Army, Lee as a Christian gentleman, and the meaning of Lee for today.

The Stephen Dill Lee Institute was established by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 2005 as a forum for historical scholarship in defense of the cause for which the Confederate soldier fought. The April 28 Robert E. Lee Bicentennial Symposium will be the premiere event in memory of this greatest of Americans.

Among the noteworthy figures invited to speak, those who have accepted to date include:

· THOMAS DiLORENZO, author of The Real Lincoln and Lincoln Unmasked.

· KENT MASTERSON BROWN, author of Retreat from Gettysburg and The Civil War in Kentucky.

· JOHN J. DWYER, author of The War Between the States: America’s Uncivil War and R. E. Lee.

· CLYDE WILSON, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of South Carolina, Dean of the S. D. Lee Institute, and author of many scholarly and historical works.

· DONALD LIVINGSTON, Professor of Philosophy at Emory University and President of The Abbeville Institute.

· THOMAS MOORE, author of The Hunt for Confederate Gold.

The Symposium will be held at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA. The Marriott is conveniently located near Lee sites such as Arlington House and his boyhood home in Alexandria, Virginia. It is within five minutes of Reagan National Airport and directly across the Key Bridge and the Potomac River (walking distance) from Georgetown. A Metro station is near the hotel for quick and easy travel to the entire Washington, DC area. Major WBTS battlefields – Manassas, Fredericksburg, Sharpsburg, and Gettysburg -- are within driving distance. Late April usually offers beautiful weather in the Washington area, so spouses are encouraged to come with registrants.

Registration cost for the Symposium is $150, which includes luncheon and banquet. Ample free parking for registrants is available at the hotel. A discounted cost of $125 for SCV members is offered until February 28, 2007. There is also a student discount of $125 until February 28, 2007 for students in secondary and higher education (including home-schoolers). The Key Bridge Marriott is offering a generous room rate for registrants of $126 per night. This block of rooms is limited, so register early to ensure your room availability.

There will be only one national Lee Bicentennial event of this stature. We expect attendees from all over the USA and abroad, and space is limited. Don’t miss it. Mark Saturday, April 28 on your calendar and make your plans to attend now.

https://scv.secure-sites.us/sdli/register.php

TO OBTAIN A MARRIOTT HOTEL RESERVATION: Call 1-800-228-9290.

OR RESERVE ONLINE VIA THIS LINK: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/waskb?groupCode=sdisdia&app=resvlink

MEDIA QUERIES? REGISTRANTS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT? CONTACT BICENTENNIAL SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BRAG BOWLING AT 804.389.3620.