The Delaware State News printed a stunning article quoting the heirs of Nutter D. Marvel Sr. strenuously objecting to the Confederate memorial and flag being allowed at the museum in Georgetown named after their grandfather (“Heirs of Nutter Marvel oppose flying of Confederate flag”). Published in its Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, edition, first posted at its online website, Bay to Bay News, reporter Glenn Rolfe has told of the Marvels donating the Marvel Museum property to the town of Georgetown, which transferred it to the Georgetown Historical Society.
On July 18, 2022, the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (the alliance) wrote to the town of Georgetown objecting to any taxpayer money going to the Georgetown Historical Society’s Marvel Museum if it hosted a memorial glorifying the Confederacy and flying its battle flag. Since then, a statewide groundswell of support has arisen for that position. The alliance noted that history is important to know, but the memorial and its flag glorifies traitors and uses what has become a vile symbol of hate, racism, White supremacy and divisiveness. That is not teaching history.
Mr. Rolfe begins his story saying that the “Confederate flag on the grounds of his namesake museum … flies in the face of Mr. Marvel’s wishes,” adding that Mr. Marvel’s grandson, Tom Marvel, said his “grandfather would be rolling over in his grave. He would never have allowed that to happen.”
Another grandson, Mr. David Marvel, states that if the flag isn’t removed to “show respect” to their grandfather, the family may take another route. He goes on to say that his grandfather’s name may have to be removed from the museum.
The story notes that Mr. Tom Marvel believes “the flag is a source of contention, and to me, it seems to be keeping the museum from going forward .”
The alliance applauds the Marvel family. The insight, courage and position of the heirs of Mr. Nutter D. Marvel Sr. display a paramount moment in support of this groundswell. They are standing up for their family, Georgetown, Sussex County and all of Delaware. The alliance thanks them for their courage and patriotism. Thank you, Marvel family!
The Confederate memorial/flag has no place at a museum featuring Nutter’s incredible lifetime, collection of carriages, historic buildings and artifacts.
The Georgetown Historical Society has nothing to stop it from taking the actions demanded by the Marvel grandchildren. Gratuitously hosting a display of symbols of hate, White supremacy, divisiveness and slavery has already resulted in the state ceasing funding in 2019 because of the efforts begun by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover. Controversies have erupted at the town of Georgetown and Sussex County.
To those who claim the memorial and the Confederate battle flag are just history, that is just not true. The public wants history to remember Benedict Arnold, Tokyo Rose, Americans who went and fought with the Islamic State and those few Delawareans who fought in the Civil War against the United States, trying to kill Americans. The public knows the difference between remembering and a monument that glorifies such vile, un-American behavior.
NASCAR has banned the Confederate battle flag.
The U.S. Marine Corps has banned it and other Confederate memorabilia stating that: “The Confederate battle flag has all too often been co-opted by violent extremist and racist groups whose divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps.” The Southern Poverty Law Center states that: “For more than a century, the Confederate flag has stood as a symbol of white supremacy and the enslavement of Black people.”
Symbols are potent. Sometimes, the symbols you choose are windows into your soul. The Confederate symbols, its battle flag in particular, are not the recounting of history; they stand for extremism and racism — the Marine Corps got it right.
Mr. Marvel should not have to roll in his grave. His joyous gifts to the community must be cherished and not diminished due to the historical society losing sight of its mission.
The alliance is gratified at the incredible groundswell of community support for the position it set out in its July 18 letter to the town, objecting to taxpayer money going to the museum.
Get rid of the memorial and its hateful symbols.
Honor Nutter Marvel, his heirs, the town, the county and entire state. Do it now!
Tom Irvine
History Committee chair
Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice
