In September 2017, former Maryland state Del. Neil Parrott and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney were at odds over the fate of a Confederate statue at Antietam National Battlefield, reflecting a broader national debate on Civil War monuments.
Parrott, a Republican, fervently opposes removing the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, while John Delaney, a Democrat, called for its removal.
In a statement, Mr. Delaney told Herald-Mail Media:
“I don’t believe that statues and monuments meant to glorify the Confederate cause and Confederate leadership belong on federal land, and they should be taken down unless they serve the clear purpose of educating people about American history and are placed by historians in the proper context for that purpose.”
“For example, we should present accurate information and preserve materials in museums when it achieves that objective,” he said.
Parrott is running against Democrat April McClain-Delaney, Mr. Delaney’s wife, for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District seat in the 2024 general election.
Neil Parrott Fights to Preserve Confederate Monuments
In an email to supporters on September 13, 2017, Parrott wrote, “I will speak out to keep that statue and every other statue in the Antietam National Battlefield.”
Parrott also announced a fundraising event at the battlefield that would take place on Sept. 21, 2017.
The dispute arose amid a national controversy over Confederate monuments following violent protests in Charlottesville, Va., earlier that month.
Antietam, the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest single-day battle, attracts thousands of visitors annually. The National Park Service oversees the battlefield and has not announced plans to remove any monuments.
Parrott argued that the battlefield’s monuments honor all Americans who fought there.
“At Antietam, 4,000 Americans died—not Union or Confederate, but Americans,” Parrott wrote.
Historians note that while individual soldiers had varied motivations, the Confederacy’s central cause was the preservation of slavery.
The debate over Civil War monuments intensified after a white supremacist killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, S.C., in 2015. Supporters of keeping the monuments say they preserve history, while opponents argue they glorify a system built on slavery.
Trone Introduces Federal Legislation to Remove Robert E. Lee Statute at Antietam
In February 2024, a group of Maryland Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to remove Lee’s statute from Antietam.
Rep. David J. Trone (D), whose district includes the battlefield, led the effort to introduce the Robert E. Lee Monument Removal Act. The legislation seeks to remove Robert E. Lee’s statute from the Antietam National Battlefield.
“This hallowed ground must reflect the sacrifices of the brave patriots who defended our country and fought for the freedom of all Americans,” Trone said in a statement.
The statue, installed by a private citizen on private property in 2003, remained after the National Park Service acquired the land in 2005 and incorporated it into the battlefield.
Rep. Ruppersberger emphasized the importance of historical accuracy in national parks.
“Displays in our national parks should be reserved for Americans and patriots who reflect our country’s democratic principles,” he said.
The statue remains in place as of October 2024.
(Editor’s note: This article combines information from 2017 and 2024.)
Neil Parrott Confederate Monuments Email
A Miner Detail obtained a copy of Neil Parrott’s full email blast:
Dear _____,
I just received a letter from a friend whose words have really stuck with me.
She wrote, “…I find it so interesting that after all these years, we MUST remove [Civil War Statues]…[Tearing down statues] is something that is usually done when a country has been conquered and everything dealing with its culture is totally destroyed.”
She’s right.
Did you know that our Maryland Congressman, John Delaney, wants to remove a Civil War statue of Robert E. Lee from the Antietam National Battlefield?
He is thoughtlessly jumping on the anti-history bandwagon that is gripping our nation. In the wake of 9-11, our history has never been more important.
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, September 21, from 5:30-8:00pm. This is not about a simple statue–this is about our history, our children, and our grandchildren.
“There are no better teachers for those who come after us than the silent monuments on the battlefields, marking the places where men died for a principle they believed right, whether they wore the blue or the gray uniform.” Major Wells Sponable, New York Monument Dedication at Antietam Battlefield on September 17, 1902.
Antietam Battlefield is in my legislative district. My wife, April, and I have hosted a Pie and Ice Cream Social in a restored, historic barn nestled right in the heart of the Battlefield, for the last five years, and 2017 will be the 6th year.
Would you be able to join me and my family on Thursday evening, September 21st. Please RSVP to this email, if you are planning to come.
I am facing a new election in 2018, and I need your help to be able to continue to work for our shared, common-sense values. ____, your donation would go a long way right now toward helping my reelection effort so that I can continue to represent you in important political battles.
If you plan to come to the events, which I hope you are, the suggested donation is $35/person and $65/family. You can RSVP to this email.
With regard to the statue of Robert E. Lee, I can tell you that I will speak out to keep that statue and every other statue in the Antietam National Battlefield.
At Antietam, 4,000 Americans died—not Union or Confederate, but Americans; each fighting for what they thought was best for their state and country; each praying to the same God for help in turbulent times.
The fact that politicians are trying to remove monuments from Antietam Battlefield in order to create political division for political advantage is unfathomable to me. This type of cold political calculation, without concern for future generations, is wrong.
Please join me in less than two weeks, on Thursday, September 21, at the Antietam Battlefield National Park, mere feet away from this historical, American statue that my Congressman audaciously and carelessly wants to tear down.
Like many of you, I love my country, and I don’t want to stay silent while our National History is smashed to pieces during my lifetime.
Join me at the Battlefield in two Thursdays, on September 21st. I really hope that you will.
Neil
Delegate Neil C. Parrott
District 2A
P.S. Please RSVP to this email so we can plan for enough pie and ice cream. The suggested donation price is $35/person and $65/family.
P.P.S. Please don’t let money be an issue. Join me if you can.
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