Monuments are not ours to take
(C) Rick Walton 4/10/2018 " Who are we then to take away the honor they earned through blood. We didn't bestowe it on them and we have no right to remove it. What we have been given is the sacred duty to protect and preserve this honor for future generations." Author at 2016 N. C. Capitol Independence Day program to Honor North Carolina Confederate Soldiers When I pass the beautiful monuments on the Capitol grounds, I recognize that citizens of North Carolina deliberately placed these here to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of individuals or groups who made significant contributions to our state. The relative importance of these contributions to our contemporary lifestyle is not what matters. WE have surely moved beyond these foundational events to achieve even greater success for our citizens. What is important to me is that these monuments allow us to honor and respect those that came before us to help us be where we are today. We should collective