July 13th: Nathan Bedford Forrest Day! Huzzah!

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed Saturday, July 13th, as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in Tennessee, a day of observation to honor the former Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader.

State law, still on the books despite the efforts of the usual suspects, requires the Tennessee governor to issue proclamations for six separate days of special observance. Three of those days, including Forrest Day, pertain to personages and events in the history of the Confederate States of America, of late remembrance. January 19th is Robert E. Lee Day, honouring the commander of the Confederate Army. June 3rd is Confederate Decoration Day, otherwise known as Confederate Memorial Day, also the birthday of President Jefferson Davis.

To kind of even things up, the statute instructs the governor to proclaim those three days of special observation along with Abraham Lincoln Day (February 12th), Andrew Jackson Day (March 15th) and Veterans Day (November 11th). The law invites the people of Tennessee "to observe the days in schools, churches, and other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies expressive of the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of such dates."

In the Forrest proclamation, identical to the one issued each year by former Governor Bill Haslam, Lieutenant-General Forrest is described as a "recognized military figure in American history and a native Tennessean." The text goes on to say that the Governor encourages "all citizens to join (him) in this worthy observance."