The Southern Independence Association Condemns Strickland Amendment Targeting the Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, 2025. The Southern Independence Association strongly opposes the inclusion of the Strickland Amendment in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This amendment explicitly prohibits the use of federal funds for the reinstallation of Confederate monuments — including the historic Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. HR 3838 - 2026 NDAA

 

The Reconciliation Monument, dedicated in 1914, was established to symbolize national healing and honor the sacrifices of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Its deliberate targeting through federal legislation represents a direct assault on reconciliation itself, as well as a broader attempt to erase Southern history and heritage. “The Strickland Amendment is not about progress — it is about erasure,” said Greg Owens, Chairman of the Board of the Southern Independence Association. “If even a monument to reconciliation is threatened, then no memorial is safe. We call on Congress to act swiftly and remove this unjust language from the NDAA.” HR 3838 - 2026 NDAA

 

The Association urges citizens across the nation to take immediate action by contacting their congressional representatives and demanding that they vote YES on any amendment that strikes the Strickland provision from the FY 2026 NDAA. Citizens can take action here: https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=jNwqpyNHwE5QfnTPO8RVH

 

About the Southern Independence Association: The Southern Independence Association is dedicated to the preservation of Southern history, heritage, and the protection of monuments and memorials honoring our ancestors.

 

Media Contact: Greg Owens, Chairman of the Board Southern Independence Association, hobson1957@gmail.com