Dragoons Celebrate Christmas

Dragoons Celebrate Christmas!

Autauga County Heritage Association’s antebellum mansion Buena Vista was the perfect setting for the Prattville Dragoon Christmas party December 12^th.  Upon arrival Dragoons, their ladies and guests were treated to piano music courtesy of ACHA’s own Mrs. Debra Davis.  Next was a delicious Christmas meal including ham, scalloped potatoes, squash casserole and butter beans catered by Red’s Little School House of Ramer, Alabama.  After dinner Mrs. Beverly Byard who manages Buena Vista provided a history of the grand old home followed by Mrs. Kerri Waldo reading a letter from a 1906 edition of the “Confederate Veteran” magazine describing Christmas during the War Between the States through the eyes of two little girls whose property was occupied by the Yankees.  Reverend Tom Snowden, Camp Chaplain, then led the group in singing traditional Christmas Carols and went solo on "Mary Did You Know" and "Star of Bethlehem".

Spirits were raised even higher when the “Jolly Old Man from the North Pole” arrived giving out candy canes for good little Dragoons who had distinguished themselves in various ways, including helping with the ongoing community service project of restoring Indian Hills Cemetery.  Then the unthinkable happened!  The Grinch arrived vowing to steal Christmas!  Disgusted, Santa proclaimed he had tried bringing the Grinch a lump of coal and ashes and switches.  Nothing had worked.  He then called on law enforcement personnel present at the event.  Fortunately retired State Trooper Karl Wade was in attendance.  He promptly informed the Grinch that stealing was against the law, put the varmint in hand cuffs, and had him sent straight to jail.  Children in Autauga County can rest easy knowing the Grinch is in no position to ruin Christmas, thanks to Trooper Wade and the Prattville Dragoons (and the SCV Semple camp’s Henry Howard as Santa and 1^st Lt Harold Grooms, the dastardly Grinch)!

The Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 Sons of Confederate Veterans wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Buena Vista

A Confederate Christmas Story

Santa Claus

Dragoons in Period Dress