LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Several organizations suited up in outfits from the 1800s on Saturday to celebrate Arkansas' Confederate history.
March 26 was the 20th Annual Confederate Heritage Day Ceremony, and it was held on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds.
Recognized by the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), the organization says it is trying to preserve the memory of the soldiers from Arkansas that wore gray.
"We are here to honor our Confederate ancestors. Most of the men you see here are decedents of Confederate Veterans," said Robert Edwards, commander of the Arkansas division of Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Combined in the event was the observation of Arkansas Confederate History, Heritage Month, Confederate Memorial Day and Confederate Flag Day.
SCV members, reenactors and living historians were dressed in period clothing to place flowers and fire a gun salute at the ceremony.
Other groups involved included Arkansas Reenactors, Children of the Confederacy, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Order of the Confederate Rose and Military Order of Stars and Bars.
An estimated 60,000 Arkansans enlisted in Confederate units. At least 6,800 are known to have been killed or died of disease during the War.
