[Jedi Master Pikachu]

He earned it (if he did serve as a Confederate soldier).

It seems akin to modern day veterans from World War 2, Korea, or Vietnam who were drafted, potentially against their will. They have the right to attend veteran reunions, and might have friends at veterans reunions, and might choose to attend veterans reunions, because they did serve in their respective wars, not that they wanted to serve in the first place.

[Non-Sequitur]

It seems akin to modern day veterans from World War 2, Korea, or Vietnam who were drafted, potentially against their will. The difference being, of course, that the World War 2, Korean, and Vietnam draftees weren's someone's property to begin with. Nor were we fighting in World War 2, Korea, or Vietnam to protect the right foor someone to own them.