And the feral government grows ever larger and more hostile to its people.
Some veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia were still alive in 1938 for the 75th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg.
This year is the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landing, other campaigns in Europe, the Warsaw uprising, and the liberation of Guam. Some of the veterans in 1938 were younger than the surviving veterans of WWII are now.
I’m looking forward to April 19th...and what Joe Biden will rename it to.
But, popular myth notwithstanding, the surrender of the Army of NoVa did NOT mark the end of the war.
Stand Watie and his 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles did not stand down until 23 June, 1865.
The State of Texas stood in rebellion until it constituted a new, "Union-friendly" government in August of '65, inaugurating a Unionist as Governor on the 9th. And on the 20th, POTUS Andrew Johnson remarked, "...[S]aid insurrection is at an end and that peace, order, tranquility, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole United States of America...."
And Confederate States Navy Lieutenant Commander James Waddell did not relinquish his command of the Confederate States Ship Shenandoah until 6 November of '65.
So where you stick a pin in it is arguable but by no means did the war end when Lee surrendered.