To the editor:

I was very interested in your story, “Marker dedicated for black Confederate,” published Nov. 13, 2016.

The story was inspirational and moving. Anthony Boone was an honorable man, and his contribution to his native land will never be forgotten.

One thing that stood out to me in your article was the way in which you kept referring to the individuals as “black Confederates,” rather than just Confederates.

In today’s society, everything is either black or white. In a community sense, we should have a collective consciousness and be blind to the color of a man’s skin.

When the Heritage Defense Coordinator for the Virginia Sons of Confederate Veterans was asked what was so different about the black Confederate soldier, he replied, “Absolutely nothing.”

The military is a brotherhood, and during war there is no time to discriminate against the man fighting next to you. For those of us not in an actual war, we should see life as our war and help each other through hard times, not bring each other down.

Melaney Cutler

Portsmouth