The city's mayor started the event right on time, which I admit impressed me. So many such ceremonies, meetings, etc., seem to start several minutes late. It was a good omen.
He mentioned that a local man had suggested a statue of General Thomas way back in 2006, but that serious fundraising efforts finally started in 2017 with many people and local groups, including schools, helping to raise money to pay for it. (I have not heard any figures for what the final cost was.) COVID interrupted the process, but the committee persisted and the fruits of their labor finally are on public display.
He turned the microphone over to local artist Matt Langford, who discussed some of his thinking when coming up with the final design. He noted the cavalry sword was symbolic of Thomas' experience in that branch of the army, and that while he preferred a well-known "US" belt buckle, a comrade convinced him that Thomas’ dress should reflect that he was a general.
He also emphasized the affection that troops under Thomas felt for him.
One thing that caught me off guard was his use of the word "meek" to describe Thomas. He insisted that "meek" did not necessarily mean "weak," but claimed it referred to a more reserved personality. I did not necessarily agree with this take, but when I got home I checked online definitions of the word and dictionary.com gives one meaning of that word as “humbly patient or quiet in nature, as under provocation from others.” That’s not the first meaning of “meek” that jumps to my mind, but it is from a reasonable source and helps me better understand his comments more than I did at first. I can see how that definition might apply, but I am still not convinced that "meek" is the best word. That is just me picking a nit, I suppose.
That quibble aside, it was nice to hear the artist explain his work.
His words were followed by a short biography of the general delivered by Deanna Beineke, the director of the Fort Thomas Museum and author of a book on the military post in the city. Her comments were brief, which was nice, as the intensity of the heat in the sea of concrete increased, and she did a good job of giving a high-level overview of Thomas' life, focusing mainly on his family and the success he had at Nashville. She also mentioned his relative lack of fame for the victories he achieved, though she mentioned his “Rock of Chickamauga” sobriquet. I would have liked to hear Mill Springs or Missionary Ridge at least mentioned, but I thought she did well given the 5-minute time limit on her talk. Nobody could do more in such a brief period.
I really like the location of the monument. It is on a small concrete area at the corner of two streets (one of which is very busy), just across one street from the city’s landmark water tower. It is near the entrance to a city park, so it may attract people looking for a day of relaxation. It should be easy for those who pass by to spot and is near enough parking for anyone who wants a closer look. The city certainly did not try to hide this monument.
Personally, having a statue of a Civil War general revealed in my home county was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It combines my twin loves of the Civil War and local history in a way few things can do, much like I’m trying to do with my current research on local soldiers. This is the kind of positive public history that adds to Campbell County’s (or any area’s) landscape. I was thrilled to be there, and I gladly offer a hearty thank you and congratulations to the city of Fort Thomas and all the people and organizations that made this happen.
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