| Southern Cross of Honor | |
|---|---|
 Obverse and reverse of the medal | |
| Awarded for | Honorable service in theConfederate States army,navy, ormarine corps |
| Date | 1899; 126 years ago (1899) |
| Presented by | United Daughters of the Confederacy |
TheSouthern Cross of Honor was a commemorativemedal established in 1899 by theUnited Daughters of the Confederacy to honorConfederate veterans.[1]
The Cross of Honor is in the form of across pattée suspended from a metal bar with space for engraving. It has no cloth ribbon. The obverse displays theConfederate battle flag placed on the center thereof surrounded by awreath, with the inscriptionUNITED DAUGHTERS [of the] CONFEDERACY TO THE U. C. V. (the UCV is theUnited Confederate Veterans) on the four arms of the cross. The reverse of the Cross of Honor is the motto of the Confederate States,DEO VINDICE ([With] God [as] our Vindicator) and the dates1861 1865 also surrounded by a laurel wreath. The arms of the cross bear the inscriptionSOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR.[1]
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In 1898, Mary Ann Cobb Erwin was the originator of the idea of a Cross of Honor; her father was the Confederate politicianHowell Cobb.[2][3] The suggestion was received by theUnited Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) with enthusiasm and approval. At a meeting of the UDC atHot Springs, Arkansas, in 1898, it took the assemblage by storm, and a committee was appointed by the President to develop designs. Mrs. Erwin preferred to remain in the background. She was placed on the committee, but withdrew. At the next annual meeting inRichmond, Virginia, the emblem proposed bySarah E. Gabbett, of Atlanta, was adopted; while at the same time, the office of Custodian of the Cross of Honor was bestowed upon Gabbett. Miss Rutherford, of Athens, served in place of Mrs. Erwin on the committee. The other members were: Mrs. Sarah E. Gabbett and Mrs. Helen Plane, both of Atlanta. The committee was afterwards enlarged and given authority to formulate rules. When the idea was finally perfected, it was made to include not only veterans but also descendants of deceased Confederate soldiers and sailors.[4][a] In compliment to Mrs. Erwin, the first Cross of Honor bestowed by the UDC was awarded to her husband, Judge Alexander S. Erwin, of Athens,[4] on April 26, 1900, by the Athens (Georgia) Chapter.[5]
Charles W. Crankshaw ofAtlanta, Georgia, was chosen as the contractor to produce the medal.[3] Its first manufacturer was Schwaab Stamp & Seal Co. ofMilwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1904 the contract was shifted to Whitehead & Hoag ofNewark, New Jersey.[2]
Anna Davenport Raines was the Custodian of Crosses of Honor until her death in 1913.[3] Though intended to end in 1913, after the issuance of 78,761 medals, in 1912 it was extended indefinitely.[6] The program finally ended in 1959.[2]
The Cross of Honor could only be bestowed through the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It could not be purchased; it was given in recognition of loyal, honorable service to the South and only a Confederate veteran could wear it.[5] It was available to any branch of the Confederate military.[2] Only living veterans were eligible. However the final award was given posthumously, in 1951 to Rear Adm.Raphael Semmes.[2] At least 78,761 were awarded.[2]
Althoughno Civil War veterans are still living, the last verified Confederate veteran dying in 1951, Virginia Code section 18.2-176(b) remains in effect and makes it a Class 3misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more thanUS$500, to "wear any Southern Cross of Honor when not entitled to do so by the regulations under which such Crosses of Honor are given."[7] An unofficial analog of the Union'sGAR Medal, its wearing was never authorized on U.S. military uniforms.[8]
The Cross of Honor is also used as an emblem or marker on the graves of Confederate veterans. It will only be issued by theDepartment of Veterans Affairs to be placed on graves of Confederate veterans.[9]
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
