Thursday, October 23, 2014

Prattville Dragoons October Camp Meeting - Part 1

Camp 1524 held our monthly meeting at the Shoney's on Cobbs Ford Rd in Prattville on Thursday October 9th.  Twenty four folks were in attendance and many had dinner prior to the meeting start at 7pm. Chaplain Tom Snowden brought the meeting to a start with an Invocation. The Color Sergeant was absent so I-65 Flag Chairman Larry Spears led the pledges to the U.S. flag and the Confederate Battle Flag.  Commander Waldo then read the SCV Charge to those gathered.  Two ladies were present with their gentlemen escorts and were recognized as special guests. Upcoming events were highlighted including the next workday at Indian Hills Cemetery, the 17th Annual Battle for the Tallassee Armory Friday thru Sunday, November 7-9th as well as all the holiday events including the Prattville and Vida Christmas parades, the former on December 1st, and the Dragoons Social to be held on Friday December 12th at the historic Buena Vista mansion.

Quartermaster Bill Myrick brought the camp stores and made a special announcement as to the availability for sale of a number of items including hats and flags. Annual membership renewals were mentioned with the October 25th deadline. Congratulations were extended to 2nd Lt Chris Booth and his wife Joy on the birth of their newest baby girl, Caroline Christine. The matching gifts for donations to the Selma Live Oak Cemetery Confederate Circle renovations by the UDC was also highlighted.

The guest speaker for this camp meeting was Dr. William Dean who spoke to the camp about "The Gallant John Pelham", brilliant Confederate artillery officer. Dr, Dean is an instructor at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base and holds a B.A. in History from the University of the South.  His M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago are in modern European military and diplomatic history.  Dr. Dean is a specialist in French Colonial Warfare.  He has taught at Roosevelt and DePaul Universities in Chicago and was the Director of Peace, War and Diplomacy Studies at Norwich University in Vermont.  Dr. Dean is currently an Associate Professor of Comparative Military Studies and teaches irregular warfare, military history and international affairs. Dr. Dean has three Confederate ancestors including a Brigade Commander.  He made a most interesting and enjoyable presentation to the camp.

The camp meeting was brought to a close with the reading of the SCV Closing and a Benediction by Chaplain Snowden.

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