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| Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery Sculpted by Moses J. Ezekiel |
Dedicated 1914; Sculpture by Sir Moses Ezekiel, former Sergeant of Cadets, Virginia Military Institute, who is himself buried at the base of this monument.
Inscription:
NOT FOR FAME OR REWARD, NOT FOR PLACE OR FOR RANK, NOT LURED BY AMBITION OR GOADED BY NECESSITY, BUT IN SIMPLE OBEDIENCE TO DUTY AS THEY UNDERSTOOD IT, THESE MEN SUFFERED ALL, SACRIFICED ALL, DARED ALL, AND DIED
See also jameswebb.com, Speech at the Confederate Memorial, 1990.
Moses J. Ezekiel was one of the VMI cadets who were called into action to plug a hole in the Confederate center at the Battle of New Market, and to repulse a Union Army advance. Though young (17 to 21 years of age) and untested in battle, the VMI cadets prevailed, charging the Union cannon and sending the Yankees into retreat. Ten of the cadets were killed outright or later died of wounds from the battle; fifty-seven were wounded. Although Ezekiel later became a world-renowned sculptor, he chose to be identified on his tombstone simply as:
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| Sgt. Moses J. Ezekiel |
Moses J. Ezekiel
Sergeant of Company C
Battalion of Cadets
of the
Virginia Military Institute
Sergeant of Company C
Battalion of Cadets
of the
Virginia Military Institute
Ezekiel once wrote: "The VMI, where every stone and blade of grass is dear to me, and the name of the cadet of the VMI, the proudest and most honored title I can ever possess."
A detailed description of his life and works can be found here.
Virginia never had a finer son. May he rest in peace.
