Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social at Buena Vista Part 2

The annual Dragoons Christmas Social was very enjoyable with a program full of Southern, Confederate and holiday cheer.  A social hour began the festivities where everyone could greet one another and enjoy some home made General Lee's eggnog.  Mrs. Ruth Graham played the grand piano including Christmas and old time Southern classics.  Nearing 7pm she played the Prattville Light Dragoons March to commence the order of events as Santa Claus watched from atop the piano. 

Commander Chris Booth then welcomed everyone and introduced all the officers of the Prattville Dragoons who were in attendance including (shown below Commander Booth) 1st Lt Harold Grooms, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, former Commander and acting-Color Sgt Larry Spears, 2nd Lt Stuart Waldo, and Chaplain Snowden (not shown).

Gen. Stephen Dill Lee's Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans was then read by 2nd Lt Waldo.  The SCV Closing was also presented towards the end of the program, both a reminder of why we were joined together at this holiday season to celebrate and remember our forefathers.  1st Lt Grooms then provided a hilarious rendition of a Cajun Night Before Christmas complete with an authentic Louisiana accent.

After Chaplain Snowden blessed the food, everyone filed thru the buffet line filling their plates with the delicious Christmas meal prepared by Red's Little School House including ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, squash casserole, desserts including pecan pie, and their famous fried cornbread.  During dinner, Charlie Graham, Ruth's husband, entertained everyone playing his guitar and singing songs - certainly a talented musical couple.

After dinner the special guests in attendance were recognized including members of the Montgomery Semple and Tallassee Armory Guards SCV camps, the Grahams, Bob Debardelaben (who served as security for the event), Butch and Pat Godwin of the Friends of Forrest from Selma and, Mrs. Beverly Byard who is acting as the Buena Vista Coordinator for the Autauga County Heritage Association.  Beverly provided a history of the Buena Vista mansion including the connections to its Confederate past and conducted a contest quizzing everyone on their historical knowledge of the old home with red pointsettias awarded for correct answers.  Mrs. Kerri Waldo then presented a reading of "Christmas in the Confederate White House" originally penned by Mrs. Jefferson Davis.

                                Commander Booth and Mrs. Beverly Byard.

Chaplain Snowden sang a number of Christmas carols and everyone joined in on Silent Night.  Door prizes were then drawn from a hat by 2nd Lt and Mrs. Waldo.  Prizes included a Battle Flag lapel pin, CDs, a Confederate calendar, a commemorative plate from the Sesquicentennial Inauguration of Jefferson Davis event in Montgomery, a shadow box of a photo and wood from the Nathan Bedford Forrest boyhood home in Chapel Hill TN, Aflac ducks from 1st Lt Grooms, and the Christmas centerpieces from each table which were provided by Commander Myrick.  After the benediction by Chaplain Snowden, Tom and Ruth with piano accompaniment led everyone in a jubilant rendition of Dixie to conclude the 2012 Dragoons Christmas Social.