Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 News for May 2014

From the Camp Dispatch newsletter for May 2014:

Camp News

Dragoon Danny Smyth Repairs Banner Pole - The long pole used to carry the Dragoon Banner in parades was broken while being transported to the Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade in February.  Dragoon Danny Smyth, who was present as we lined up, did a temporary repair to get us through the parade, then took the pole home and made a permanent repair by placing a metal rod in the pole.  Danny has also recently become a member of the I-65 Flag Committee, where his mechanical ability will also be used and appreciated.  Thank you, Danny!

Dragoons Sponsor JROTC Hunley Award.  Commander Stuart Waldo, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick, Past Commander Larry Spears, and Communications Officer Tyrone Crowley all were present recently to present awards to deserving recipients from Prattville and Stanhope Elmore High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) detachments. This award goes to a second-year cadet who exemplifies honor, courage, and most importantly commitment to the JROTC unit. The award was named in honor of the crew of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley who gave their lives in defense of their country and demonstrated these same qualities in performing their duties. On Thursday evening 3 April, our Camp presented the Hunley award to Cadet Tanner Furlong of Prattville High School.  The same award was presented on Wednesday 9 April to a deserving candidate, Cadet Joseph Brantley, at Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook.

Dragoons Attend Memorial Ceremony at Capitol - Several Dragoons attended the combined UDC/SCV Confederate Memorial Ceremony at the State Capitol Confederate Monument on Monday 28 April at 10 a.m.  Harold Grooms, Larry Spears, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Myrick, David Brantley, and Louis Turner were present, along with close to 100 others, to announce the name of their ancestor when the microphone was passed around during the memorial service.  The ceremony was enhanced by Fiddlin' in the Parlor, a husband-and-wife team from Bessemer, and the fine spontaneous dancing by Bill Anthony and lady Nikki from the Tallassee Camp.  There was also a bagpiper and a Confederate cannon salute that rattled windows for blocks around.  Another fine day for UDC/SCV collaboration!

Dragoons Conduct Annual Memorial Ceremony at Dragoon Monuments - Bearing in mind a forecast of potentially dangerous weather, the Prattville Dragoons commemorated Confederate Memorial Day on Monday April 28^th at the Dragoons monument at the Prattville Primary School on Washington Street.  The Dragoons program at 6 p.m. followed another at the State Capitol at 10 a.m. that morning which was hosted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  Bagpiper Bob Miller of Carrollton, Georgia, who also piped at the Capitol ceremony that morning, led a procession of Dragoons from the County Courthouse Monument to the Dragoon Monuments at Fourth and Washington Streets to begin the ceremony.  Chaplain Tom Snowden rendered up fine prayers to open and close, Commander Stuart Waldo offered a welcome and thought-provoking remarks, 1Lt Cmdr Harold Grooms gave us the history of the Confederate Monuments in Prattville, and which he and Adjutant Wayne Sutherland set a wreath in front of the 1916 Dragoon Monument.  Reenactor Liaison Col Paul Whaley and men from the 33rd Alabama Reenactors provided a fine Honor Guard for the service.  We also owe a debt of thanks to Dragoon Larry Miller for keeping the weeds under control at the Prattville Primary monument site. 

Forrest Waldo Receives Scholarship From Alabama Division. Commander Stuart Waldo's son Forrest Waldo has been awarded one of the Alabama Division’s Lt. General Joseph Wheeler Scholarships. After being invited by the Division, Forrest plans to attend the Division Reunion Awards Banquet in Athens on May 17^th.  Forrest is a senior at Auburn University majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Martha Ann Wallace Home From Rehab.  On 18 April, Dragoon Steve Wallace reported that he had brought Martha Ann home from Rehab, and thanked all Dragoons for their prayers in her behalf.

Dragoons Take On Indian Hills Cemetery Project. Dragoon Benny Harris has agreed to lead the renovation of Prattville's Indian Hills cemetery and the Confederate graves there as a camp project.  Thank you, Compatriot Harris, for taking on this responsibility.  Benny recently was in charge of a similar project in Chilton County so has solid experience in this area of effort.