Ranger Howard “Mad Max” Mullen, a 2013 inductee of the Ranger Hall of Fame, addressed the City Council of Andersonville. Stones bearing names of Ranger Hall of Fame members were recently removed due to their service in the Confederate army. Mullen detailed plans to bring three of the four stones to Andersonville, so that they can show case the stones at the Civil War Drummer Boy Museum.

Mullen detailed plans for a ceremony upon their arrival. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about this proposal for an upcoming event that I hope you find it in your heart to approve.” Mullen told how the National Ranger Monument is in Fort Moore Georgia, which was dedicated in 1992. “The memorial represents Rangers of the past and present and future.”

He told how a number of Rangers were honored with inscriptions of their names on stone pavers. “Some heroes, medal of honor recipients, former presidents.”

Mullen mentioned the recent changes in the names of several military bases, including Fort Benning to Fort Moore. “I’m not here to talk politics, I just want to give you a basis on why we are here.”

He addressed the overall trend in removing Confederate names and monuments. “There’s a big push to remove these monuments, these Confederate monuments and stuff. Erase our history. So it’s very important that we maintain our history for our future generations.”

Mike Kelso, also in the Ranger Hall of fame and director of the National Ranger Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund, was present. Kelso addressed the pavers. “There were four pavers removed.” He mentioned that they were only seeking to house three at the museum. He stated the pavers; “were removed simply because these rangers fought for the Confederacy.”

Kelso shared his view of the memorial. “The Ranger Memorial is not about the North, the South. It’s not about any of the wars. It’s about the rangers who are honored by being in the Ranger Hall of Fame.”

He summed up their request. “These soldiers were submitted for the Hall of Fame, were voted on by a board, to see if they met the criteria to be included in the Hall of Fame, so all we ask is that these pavers be placed in the Drummer Boy Museum to preserve them and to preserve the names, the legacy of what those rangers did, granted for a Country that lost a war, but they were still Rangers.”

Mayor Brandon Gross questioned the Rangers. “As a City do you think we would take any backlash or negative press?”

Mullens commented on what he perceived to be a shift in perspective concerning political correctness. “People are sick of this stuff.”

The ceremony is planned for October 4th, and will make use of the pavilion. The City Council voted to support the ceremony, with Chris Wooden making the motion, Scottie Barnes seconding the motion, passing unanimously.

The City Council also voted to provide a lunch for dignitaries present at the ceremony, with Wooden making the motion, seconded by Hobbs, passing unanimously.