Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a declaration proclaiming April “Confederate Heritage Month” in his state.

His order was not included on the list of gubernatorial proclamations, according to the Jackson Free Press, but appeared on the website of the pro-Confederacy group Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The governor’s office later confirmed the existence of the proclamation, which says April was chosen because it was the month “in which the Confederate States began and ended a four-year struggle,” and also includes the state’s Confederate Memorial Day on April 2nd.

Bryant, a Republican who has served as governor since 2012, said in the order that “it is important for all Americans to reflect open our nation’s past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us.”

The proclamation was issued as a response to a request from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Bryant’s spokesman Clay Chandler told The Clarion-Ledger.

Mississippi governor declares 'Confederate Heritage Month' - NY Daily News