Don’t adjust your calendars or anything, but if you’ve seen the recent images of Confederate statues coming down in Richmond, you might think we have time-traveled back to the chaotic year of 2020. Surprisingly, though, it’s 2026, and Virginia is still dismantling its links to history.
The latest in this seemingly never-ending saga occurred on Friday, when the statue of Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire was included in the destruction of monuments. McGuire, despite being a Confederate surgeon during the Civil War, made significant contributions to the Geneva Convention, a cornerstone in the domain of humanitarian wartime conduct.
McGuire dedicated most of the Civil War to serving as a surgeon, saving numerous lives. Ironically, one of the lives he couldn’t save was that of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who died while under McGuire’s care. Coincidentally, Jackson’s statue was also taken down on the same day.
It was under Jackson’s leadership in 1862 that McGuire instilled a new principle in warfare: the humane treatment of captured medical personnel. This principle was notably brought to life after the First Battle of Winchester, when he persuaded Jackson to release six captured Union doctors. This led to the creation of the Winchester Accord, which allowed for the exchange of medical personnel as non-combatants.
McGuire himself would later be released under this accord in 1864 and was present during the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. The essential tenets of the Winchester Accord eventually found their way into the Geneva Convention, ensuring that medical personnel are protected in times of conflict. Yet, despite these contributions, his statue was removed like so many before it.
The trend to erase such historical figures seems to lack any sense of careful consideration. If a statue’s figure wore the “wrong” uniform, it’s deemed unacceptable, and down it goes, along with the legacy attached.
State Senator Mike Jones expressed that McGuire’s statue had to go because it reminded him of racial injustices from history that he finds uncomfortable. To think that a piece of metal can evoke such feelings of unease seems, well, a bit extreme. It feels like we’re still grappling with ideas that should have been resolved, but here we are.
Honestly, if one were to compare the contributions of those advocating for the removal of McGuire’s statue, I doubt they would match the historical significance of his impact on modern warfare ethics.
It’s fascinating, really. While there’s a chorus of voices critical of alleged war crimes in various contexts today, they seem to overlook the contributions made by individuals like McGuire, who fundamentally shaped the rules surrounding such issues.
Curiously, those who oppose any signs of patriotism in institutions like the Smithsonian are alright with toppling statues of someone whose work saved countless lives.
There’s a prevalent idea among Democrats that this removal, unlike the chaotic dismantling seen in 2020, followed due process with approvals from elected representatives. Sure, that’s what they say, but aren’t there usually no conservatives included in these committees that decide to erase aspects of Southern heritage?
The lone upside is that McGuire’s statue, along with the others, will find a new home at battlefield sites, thanks to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, which seems committed to preserving our history.
A spokesperson from the foundation shared the notion that “preservation is more about the future than the past,” highlighting that our shared history could unite us, and draws strength from past struggles. I mean, that makes sense.
However, I still believe these statues should remain in their original place of honor at the capitol. The narrative that this version of “Wokeness” is dying down is, frankly, not just exaggerated; it’s misleading. The battle against this selective amnesia regarding our history needs to intensify, not fade away.
