“THIS WAS OUR HERO AND HIS CAUSE WAS OURS”

Another of the Ribbons I have from J C Tatum.

A description is posted HERE

The cornerstone laying was accompanied by a large and elaborate ceremony in 1896, including the Confederate veteran's reunion and plans were for a massive temple in Monroe Park costing $250,000.

 Fundraising became a problem and the project was scaled back and, with a less-elaborate design, it was finally completed in 1907 on land donated by the city of Richmond at Monument and Davis. The original cornerstone from this 1896 ceremony was included in the final monument.

On June 3, 1907, the 99th anniversary of Davis’s birth, his only surviving child, Margaret Davis Hayes, unveiled the statue (still missing a few details) on Monument Avenue. The ceremony and parade were the highlight of the annual United Confederate Veterans reunion. Attended by a crowd estimated between 80,000-200,000 people.