Col. Eanes honored with award
Greg Eanes has been recognized for his work with Southern heritage. The retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, who is also a professor at Hampden-Sydney College, was recognized by the Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOS&B) with the Henry Timrod Southern Culture Award during the organization’s annual convention in Missouri.
The award’s namesake was a Confederate veteran, newspaperman and poet. One award is given annually to members “for outstanding contributions towards the appreciation and explanation of our Southern Heritage and way of life.” The award may be given for contributions in the form of fine art, literature, scholarly articles, cinema, art, theatre, poetry, architecture, and other appropriate works. Previous recipients of the award include historical artist Mort Kunstler.
Capt. LeeRoy Lance, USN (Ret) made the nomination stating, “Colonel Eanes is a most prolific writer of Southern Heritage books and has presented multiple lectures on Southern Heritage to various audiences in and out of the MOS&B”
He cited Eanes’ books, monographs, and presentations to include The Wilson-Kautz Raid and the Battle for the Staunton River Bridge, Sailor’s Creek: The Black Day of the Army, Virginia’s Black Confederates: Essays and Rosters and various presentations to include A Living Memorial to Reunion and Reconciliation delivered at Sailors Creek Battlefield State Park in 2023.
Colonel Eanes is a regional military historian whose primary focus is Southside Virginia in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the modern era.
“I am flabbergasted. I did not know I had been nominated,” Eanes said. “I am humbled to think my work was worthy of such recognition. The award is proudly accepted knowing that it was bestowed by honorable men engaged in good works to honor and remember the sacrifices of those patriots that came before us.”
Though retired, Colonel Eanes continues to work as a Visiting Lecturer on National Intelligence at the Samuel V. Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest at Hampden-Sydney College.
The Military Order of the Stars and Bars is an international historical association of descendants of the Southern officer corps during the War Between the States. A 501(c)3, it maintains a wide range of programs to recognize outstanding contributions in the fields of history, fine arts, and journalism. It presents college scholarships, erects and protects war memorials, and honors veterans of all wars.