Robert E. Lee High School mementos up for grabs

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – Several Robert E. Lee High School items are up for grabs as the school changes its name to Legacy of Educational Excellence, LEE High School.

A museum is being constructed on campus that will include a Robert E. Lee bust, photos and artifacts, but the Northeast School District says they can’t keep everything. More than a thousand items will be auctioned off online starting Monday, July 16.

Mementos include everything from cheerleader megaphones to yearbooks, chairs and a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s uniform and sword.

John Smetzer posted on the Northeast Independent School District Facebook page, “I built this with the help of my good friend Robert Rios. 4 years, countless hours. To see it auctioned off is very sad.”

Leslie Walter Thompson says she’s “disgusted” by the sale of items that have the name Robert E. Lee.

“You are really selling the school yearbooks that document the countless number of former students who helped define and establish the Excellence that Robert E. Lee is known for?” she posted on Facebook.

NEISD replied ,”A collection of yearbooks from all years will remain in the library like at all schools, however there are many extras. An on-campus museum is also being built with many mementos, but not every item can be included.”

There also were complaints about a memorial plaque honoring a Robert E. Lee High School student that was included in the auction, but the district says it was a mistake.

“It was never slated for auction. It was removed due to construction and was always going to be put back once all construction is complete,” posted Karen Barrett Craig with NEISD.

NEISD says they decided to auction the items because of the interest expressed by several Robert E. Lee High School graduates.

The online auction will start at 9 a.m. local time July 16, 2018 and continue through July 30, 2018.

Here is the link to the auction:
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm…

Note that the website posts times in eastern time, ET.

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