Boycott of New Orleans for Removal of Historic Confederate Monuments

New Orleans, Louisiana Boycott

Sons of Confederate Veterans

The recent events in New Orleans have been heartbreaking. The current mayor, Mitch Landrieu, and the City Council have completely derailed and are destroying the history of the very city they were elected to protect. Ironically, in the early morning hours on Monday Mr. Landrieu, according to reports, had local firemen dismantle one of four monuments that he and other elected officials (not the citizens) alleged to be offensive to the citizens of New Orleans. The irony here is that Landrieu himself narrowly escaped house arrest for owing the firefighters pension fund over $70 million dollars; yes, $70 million dollars.

In 2015 word was received that the Mayor and his council started laying the groundwork for their plan, much like ISIS, to destroy monuments of our ancestors. With this information, the local Camp and Louisiana Division entered into litigation to stop this insanity. The National SCV entered into the litigation at a later date in an attempt to block the removal of historical monuments placed in the city. Thus far the fine men of Louisiana have basically been railroaded by Landrieu and his cronies over the years. For thirty two years the City was run by people of color who respected historical monuments, but now Mr. Landrieu chooses to create division among the people for some perceived political gain or notoriety. It is reported that Landrieu now has a list over one hundred streets and school names he wishes to change.

We are calling for a BOYCOTT of the City of New Orleans by the members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and all right-minded people. Please visit Confederate Memorial Hall in this once fine Southern city but do not spend any of your hard earned dollars otherwise in the City. We must stand strong and let the historical terrorists and haters know who we are and what we stand for!

New Orleans is no different than any other large town in the Southeast, and tourism dollars are what they thrive upon. New Orleans’ busiest time of the year is Mardi Gras, and the money raised every year is used to promote the Mayor and City Council’s agenda. You are encouraged to visit Louisiana and the countless towns and communities that host Mardi Gras festivals, please avoid New Orleans. Let our voices and dollars be heard!!!

Therefore, we call for a BOYCOTT of New Orleans, LA and highly encourage each of you to spread the word to friends and family. We need to show Mr. Landrieu and his cronies that we will not stand for his ISIS tactics and the absolute destruction of OUR history under the cloak of darkness with snipers on rooftops. We must collectively let the powers that be know that we will not allow OUR HISTORY and the world’s history to be destroyed or re-written by a few despicable people in power!

Prattville Dragoons Indian Hill Cemetery Spring 2017 Cleanup

Indian Hill Cemetery looks great for Easter Sunday thanks to the work of five Dragoons and one Cradle of the Confederacy Camp member who worked and cleaned up the cemetery on Saturday morning April 15th plus the previous work of Dragoon Billy Leverette on Thursday April 13th. Billy worked nearly 3 hours Thursday which provided the work crew on Saturday a good head start. The workers ran weed eaters, sprayed weeds, raked leaves, cut grass  and trash and performed other tasks. Dragoons who volunteered at Indian Hill cemetery on Saturday included Harold Grooms, Wayne Sutherland, Allen Herrod, James and Larry Spears. They were joined by Montgomery's Cradle of the Confederacy Camp 692 Compatriot Mike Stanley who heard about the Dragoons' clean up day and volunteered his services to the effort.  New flags were placed on the 5 known Confederate veterans interred in the cemetery, including Dragoon Lt. A. Y. Smith. 

Dragoons Clean Local Doster and Robinson Springs Cemeteries

Members of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 cleaned Robinson Springs Cemetery and Doster cemetery on Monday, April 10. Present for the Robinson Springs clean up were Bill Myrick, Bill Gill, Tom Crowley, James Spears and Larry Spears. Compatriot Carl French of the Cradle of the Confederacy Camp cut the grass at Robinson Springs over the weekend and did an outstanding job as usual. The Dragoons trimmed and performed other tasks to get the cemetery in good shape for Confederate History Month and Easter. Clean up of this cemetery is a joint effort between the two camps.  Compatriot Bill Myrick cleaned Doster cemetery by himself for several hours on Monday. Thanks to all these men who dedicated their services on Monday. 

Prattville Dragoons Host Confederate Memorial Day Program

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 invite everyone to a program to observe Confederate Memorial Day on Monday April 24th at 6pm at the Prattville Primary School, 216 Wetumpka St, Prattville AL.  The event will feature music including live bagpipes, an Honor Guard posting colors and a wreath at the monument for the Prattville Dragoons as well as guest speaker, Pastor John Weaver.  Free SCV educational posters and beverages will be available.  Come and bring family, friends and guests and bring lawn chairs to sit down and enjoy a meaningful local Prattville event.

Confederate Memorial Day Events for 2017

There are at least 4 events in our Montgomery AL area that you can participate in to honor your Confederate veterans during Confederate History and Heritage Month. The state holiday for Confederate Memorial Day is Monday 24 April this year. On that date at 10:00 A.M. at the Confederate Memorial Monument on the state capitol grounds, the Alabama United Daughters of the Confederacy will host their annual Confederate Memorial remembrance. There are chairs provided or you can sit on the capitol steps or bring a folding chair. There will be cannon firing, rifle salute, bagpipes, music by Fiddlin' in the Parlor, keynote speaker Pastor John Weaver, ancestor honor roll call and more. You may announce the name of one Confederate soldier, his company and/or regiment during the roll call/bell ringing. Pastor Weaver is from Georgia and is well known for his positive commentaries about the South and Confederacy. One of his most famous commentaries, which our camp has on CD for those interested, is The Truth Concerning the Confederate Battle Flag. Here is a recording of his sermon/commentary on the Battle Flag with other videos of his talks listed on the side of the page: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDpAB7mycNc 

The second event is our own Prattville Dragoon Confederate Memorial ceremony at the two Dragoon monuments on Washington St. at the Prattville Primary School. (Street address for the school if you need it is 216 Wetumpka St., Prattville)  Our monuments are just around the corner from the front of the school and face Washington St. This will be on Monday 24 April at 6:00 P. M. We are most fortunate to have Pastor Weaver scheduled to speak at our ceremony also! Rarely would any of us have the opportunity to hear this great man speak twice in one day but here is your opportunity. We need a crowd there to support Dr. Weaver. Commander Waldo and the other officers challenge all members who can possibly attend to be there and bring some guests! There will be bagpipes and a wreath laying at the Dragoons monument there at the primary school.  Bring your lawn chairs to this event. There is ample parking on site. 

Another fine Confederate Memorial Day Program to attend will be held on Tuesday April 25 in Selma at the Confederate Memorial Circle in the Old Live Oak Cemetery.  This event is hosted by the Selma Chapter 53 UDC and the Col.C.C. Pegues SCV Camp 62.  This event will be held at 6pm on Tuesday and also features past-SCV Chaplain in Chief John Weaver.  Confederate Memorial Circle has had extensive renovations to beautify the final resting place of many Confederate veterans and provides educational kiosks also. 

The fourth event is the memorial service at Oakwood cemetery in Montgomery hosted by the Ladies Memorial Association on Wednesday 26 April at 2:00 P.M. April 26 is the original date designated by the Legislature for Confederate Memorial Day as it was the date that General Joseph Johnston surrendered his Army in North Carolina in 1865. The LMA has held Confederate Memorial services there since 1866, the year it was organized. They built a pavilion in 1869 which is still there today and will will be the location of the ceremony. This is always a splendid service, held in open air springtime weather under the trees and amoung the rolling hills of Oakwood cemetery. There will be an honor guard to fire a salute to the Confederate veterans. LMA website: http://www.theladiesmemorialassociationofmontgomery.yolasite.com 

Make your plans to attend some or all of these events during Confederate History month. These ceremonies will definitely stir your Confederate blood.

Dragoons Present JROTC SCV Hunley Awards

The Prattville Dragoons again presented the Sons of Confederate Veterans H.L. Hunley Award at Prattville High School and (Millbrook) Stanhope Elmore High School recently.  Thursday night, March 30, at Prattville High School the Prattville Dragoons presented the Hunley Award to JROTC Cadet Ashton Holland. Presenting the award were 1st Lt. Commander Harold Grooms and Past Camp Commander William Myrick.


Brendan McGraw was this year’s recipient of the SCV Hunley award at Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook AL) during the school's Army JROTC awards program on Wednesday morning, April 12th.  Brendan is the Bravo Company Commander already.  Commander Waldo and Past Commander Myrick made this presentation at Stanhope Elmore. 

Caver's Encyclopedic History of Alabama

An announcement from our Autauga county historical expert, Larry Caver,  about his new book.  For more information please contact Mr. Caver at larrycaverjr@yahoo.com.

Caver's Encyclopedic History of Alabama, Vol. I (A-B) has been published. It contains information on the people, places and events in Alabama's history. It is alphabetical. Volume I contains information on the letters "A-B". Volume I has approximately 440 pages in size. It is available for $35 postage included. 

Easter Message from the Prattville Dragoons Chaplain

Our Risen Savior

Read | 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Jesus' life, death, and resurrection form a solid foundation for our Christian faith. Scripture tells us that Jesus lived a perfect life—one without any sin. As the spotless Lamb of God, He willingly went to the cross and sacrificed Himself for us (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Christ bore our sins and endured our punishment so we might be reconciled to God.

The Savior's death was accepted by the Father as full payment for our sins, and it made a way for us to be at peace with Him (Rom. 5:1). Three days after the crucifixion, Jesus was raised from death to life. He had overcome the grave. In victory, He ascended into heaven and now sits at the Father's right hand.

Christ's death and resurrection are a picture of what happened at our salvation. Recognizing ourselves as sinners who could not pay for our own misdeeds, we expressed faith in our Savior. Then, "our old self was crucified with Him" (Rom. 6:6), and we were reborn spiritually. Because of His sacrifice, we were forgiven, reconciled to God, and adopted into His family. Heaven will be our eternal home.

Paul emphasized the importance of the resurrection to the Christian life. He explained that if it were not true, our faith would be in vain.

The risen Christ appeared to many people. He let Thomas touch Him to know that He was alive. After the Lord ascended into heaven, the Father sent His Holy Spirit to indwell believers and bear witness to the truth of the resurrection. Our faith is based on the secure foundation of a risen Savior.

It is my prayer that everyone will have a blessed Easter. 

Appomattox - April 1865

In acknowledgement of the sad events of April 6 - 9, 1865. After the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert Edward Lee commanding,  departed the Petersburg and Richmond defenses, they tried to maneuver to join General Joseph Johnston’s army in North Carolina and continue the fight. However, the Army of the Potomac commanded by General U.S. Grant continued to restrict Lee’s movements and eventually on April 6 cut off about 1/4 of his Army at Sayler’s Creek, Virginia and captured them. The remains of the gallant Army of Northern Virginia attempted to break out of the confinement but they were unsuccessful. Starving, outnumbered, worn out and with few supplies General Lee exchanged notes with General Grant which led to their meeting at the McLean house at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia on April 9, 1865. General Lee was heard to say that he would rather die a thousand deaths than to face Grant and ask for terms. However, as he did all his life, he did his duty. This time it was to avoid the further loss of life in the nearly hopeless situation his Army was in. 

Read this narrative of the events mentioned above and think of how it hurt our beloved General Lee to cease fighting for the liberty of the Confederate States of America. It is well written and very factual. 

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm 

Here is the Farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia from General Robert E. Lee, Commanding. Notice he said the Army was “compelled to yield…”  He did not say surrender.

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/leefarewell.html 

God bless the South and God bless Robert E. Lee.

April is Confederate History and Heritage Month

FROM Defending The Heritage: 

When Lincoln called up 75 thousand men to invade the Independent Southern States on April 15, 1861, his unconstitutional act prompted the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas to secede, joining the newly formed country, the Confederate States of America. Thus, with the invasion of the South, this began the bloodiest war in our American history.

When the South was invaded, Southern States called upon their sons to do their duty to defend their state, homes and family from invasion. These men went to do their duty, not as aggressors or in the spirit of conquest, but to protect their homeland from an unjust invasion.

More than half of all the casualties on both sides were from the hardships and disease found in camp life. This was especially true for the Southern troops who nearly always lacked the basic necessities of food, clothing and medical supplies, unlike the Northern troops, who had plenty.

The sacrifices made by the Confederate soldier are incomprehensible today. They would march for days with little or no rest, very little food, some with no shoes and in the heat of summer and the frigid cold of winter. Fatigue, hunger and sickness was common place for these soldiers.

Despite the hardships endured by the Confederate soldiers they pressed on to perform their duty. In nearly every conflict these soldiers were typically out numbered and out gunned 3 to 1.

The “Rebel Yell” made these brave soldiers famous. It demonstrated a fighting spirit, courage, tenacity and gallantry allowing them to prevail in most of the major conflicts of the war. Sadly they fought an invader with unlimited reserves and resources, making victory impossible.

Even during the last year of the war when they knew that victory was impossible, the Confederate soldier continued to fight courageously to protect their homes and families, to the very end.
They received no great bounty or pay for their service nor did they ask for any monuments or special attention. They wished only to be remembered with the truth behind their heroic and noble struggle, in America’s second War for Independence.

April is Confederate History Month and commemorates the men and women of the Confederate States of America. 

Nearly 258 thousand Confederate soldiers died protecting their homes, families and our Constitution. They fought bravely and nobly against overwhelming forces and odds. They suffered incomprehensible hardships to the very end. They were called to their duty as Americans....as fathers and as sons. They served without hesitation and we owe each of them to make sure the truth be told about them and the War. These soldiers are our ancestors and without hesitation or question, deserve respect, honor and dignity from each of us.

Prattville Dragoons Place Flags on Confederate Veterans Graves at Local Cemeteries

The Dragoons and other compatriots turned out Friday evening March 31st to flag the Confederate veteran graves at Oak Hill cemetery in Prattville, as has been done for many years. Chaplain Snowden led a prayer for these veterans, their families and descendants and the crew proceeded to place over 80 flags across the cemetery.  Present were Stuart Waldo, James Spears, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Myrick, Harold Grooms, Tom Snowden, Wayne Sutherland, Will Dismukes, Louis Turner Sr., Louis Turner Jr., Bill Gill and Shannon Fontaine. Shannon brought his mobile Battle Flag on a 20 ft. pole which you see in the background.  This was a great beginning to Confederate History and Heritage month for the camp.

Earlier in the week Dragoons James and Larry Spears and Bill Gill marked Confederate veteran graves with flags at Mount Zion Cemetery just above Deatsville, Ross Cemetery on Ross Rd. in Deatsville and Robinson Springs Cemetery on Hwy 14 in Millbrook AL. It was a very enjoyable experience for these active members of SCV Camp 1524. 

On Saturday April 1st , Tyrone Crowley and wife Carol stopped and placed flags on the graves of three known Confederates at Kingston Cemetery in Prattville, two of whom were Prattville Dragoons. Two flags placed there from last year were still in place, though badly weathered.  On the third grave, the stick was still in place, but the flag had fallen off.  It’s always good to find the flags honoring these heroic Confederate veterans still in place a year later; speaks well of the local Prattville community in honoring and respecting their rich history.

Prattville Dragoons Spring Picnic

SCV Camp 1524 had an outstanding annual picnic at Confederate Memorial Park on Saturday, 1 April. Flags were set on all the veterans and widows graves, camp officers were sworn in for the coming year, several Confederate flags which had become unserviceable were ceremoniously retired, everyone enjoyed a delicious BBQ meal with all the side dishes and desserts furnished by the camp members and we heard the inspiring music from the Camp 1921 String Band of Tallassee. It was a splendid day in Dixie with perfect weather and plenty of good Confederate fellowship to go around. Special guests Division Commander Jimmy Hill and Division 2nd Lt. Commander Randall Hughey along with Brigade Commander Butch Godwin joined us and celebrated the occasion with the Dragoons. We utilized Pavilion number 3 at Confederate Memorial Park which is the newest one with lighting and restrooms, for our picnic and the setting was perfect. Assistant Brigade Commander Bill Myrick swore in the camp officers for 2017-2018 including Commander Stuart Waldo, 1st Lt. Commander Harold Grooms, 2nd Lt. Commander George Jenks, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Treasurer Billy Leverette and Chaplain Tom Snowden.  Several Confederate flags that had been declared unserviceable were retired in a solemn ceremony which was coordinated by 1 Lt. Commander Harold Grooms. These flags were some which had been placed at Confederate veterans graves at cemeteries throughout the local community and had weathered over the past year.  Commander Waldo officiated the ceremony while Compatriot Edward Morgan assisted with the flag retirement. Other Dragoons were in formation as the ceremony took place.  A delicious BBQ meal was served to those gathered for the event. Dixie butts from the Dragoons annual fundraiser were donated by Dragoons Skip Ward and Bill Hamner. Camp stew was provided by 1st Lt Harold Grooms and Karl Wade.  No one went away hungry with all the good BBQ and all the delicious sides and desserts!  The final event of the Dragoon picnic was entertainment by the fantastic Tallassee Camp 1921 String Band. They performed in the CMP chapel not far from the pavilion.  Wonderful music and an outstanding job including a rousing rendition of Dixie!

Dragoons Canvas Prattville with April Billboard Ads for Confederate History and Heritage Month

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 placed advertisements on three electronic billboards in Prattville for the entire month of April to celebrate Confederate History and Heritage month.

Billboard Ad on Hwy 14 and I-65 (exit 181) facing west toward Prattville

Sunrise over Billboard Ad on Cobbs Ford Rd facing west toward Prattville

Billboaard Ad on Main Street and Memorial Ave in downtown Prattville

Prattville Dragoons Chaplain's Column for April 2017

Chaplain’s Column: A Daily Habit of Prayer
Scripture: Psalms 4:4
In Psalm 4:4 of the Bible says to “Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.” We may ask, How can we develop the habit of prayer just like Jesus did and experience God’s power in our life? If we look at two practical ways to develop a praying heart: keep the prayer simple and knowing when to pray.
How we begin the day and how you end the day determines how everything else in between goes. The Bible encourages us to begin our day with prayer. In Psalm 5:3, David said, “In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” David began his day in prayer. But notice also that David ended his day in prayer. Look at Psalm 4:4–5. David said, “Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.” I’m going to make my last activity at night praying to God, confessing my sins, and asking for His blessing in my life. I’m going to make my bed an altar of righteousness.” Isn’t that a great thought? Your bed can actually be an altar from which you offer up sacrifices of righteousness to God. How you begin the day and how you end the day determines how you spend the rest of the day.
In the morning before we get out of bed we could take a few moments and talk to our heavenly Father. Ask Him for His favor throughout the day. Ask for protection for your family. Ask for wisdom in the decisions you make. And before you drift off to sleep at night, make your final thoughts a prayer to God, reviewing the day with Him, confessing anything you wish you had done differently, asking for His protection through the night. Pray for someone you may know who is in need of Salvation.
I once heard someone say Prayer is like breathing. You’ll find the more that you pray, the more you’ll want to pray. When we read our Bible and meditate in prayer, we get closer to God. Then we can learn more about God’s will for our lives. We learn that prayer really does make a difference in our lives.
Please remember those on our prayer list.

Prattville Dragoons Commander's Column for April 2017 - AL Division SCV Education Conference

Over 100 people attended the Alabama Division Education Conference on Saturday March 26^th at the Doster Center in Prattville.  We had eight Dragoons in attendance but for those who could not make it, you missed a tremendous educational opportunity.  I would encourage you next year to attend and take advantage of this great local event which will inform and encourage you to advance the Charge. Ronald Kennedy asked, “How do we vindicate the Cause?”  The answer – by destroying Lincoln’s federal empire which is bigger and more intrusive today than ever since Reconstruction.  He asked, are you a citizen or a subject?  Interestingly, he illustrated the continuing subjugation of the South by highlighting the disparity of population and median household income between the North and the South, today 20%.  A higher cost/standard of living and hence income in the North and on the left coast allows people from these more “progressive” regions to internally emigrate from their “blue” states to the South and wield considerable financial and thus political influence in our own communities.  Kennedy recommended irregular political warfare to combat this subjugation, to create a shadow government to lobby elected officials to support Southern heritage causes, start an educational PR campaign and push Southern sovereignty issues by stressing commonality with other conservative groups and finally, targeting local and statewide political seats sympathetic or supportive of the SCV agenda. 

Ronald’s brother Donald followed and recommended a method of “shock and awe” in dealing with Yankees.  The SCV needs to stop preaching to each other and get out in front of the public to take the offense in educating the public as to the truth of Southern history and heritage. He provided examples such as how to turn the conversation from the typical progressive attacks regarding slavery and smaller government, originalist Constitutional theory and, the real reasons for secession and the War.  To defend oneself and indeed take the attack to the Yankee inquirer, you need to know basic facts of Southern history and heritage and these truths will prevail. He provided the example of those who claim the Southern states seceded to preserve and protect their institution of slavery since the states declaration of secession clearly state such (eg. Mississippi).  First shock them with a counterattack asking why they have not considered Massachusetts where slavery was first legalized and existed for 75 years longer than in Mississippi and whose state law served as the example of why segregation was legal in Supreme Court examination of Jim Crow laws.  Follow with the awe of historically accurate facts.  Mississippi secession was promoted by state Democrats who were generally not slave holders.  The wealthy Whig delta plantation owners were opposed to secession but whose support was garnered for secession by including this protective language. Jefferson Davis in his “Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government” said no issue has been misused more than the issue of slavery. Donald used the illustration that if the War was about slavery it failed as before the WBTS there were approximately 3 million slaves in the South but forty years later there were 8 million bound in the poverty of sharecropping in the South. Patrick Henry uttered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” but he also said that liberty was first and union was second.  Lincoln was the first U.S. President who said the Union created the states and that the states were not sovereign. “The South was right in 1861 because America was right in 1776,” Donald exclaimed. 

Thomas DiLorenzo who wrote the best-seller “The Real Lincoln” was the final speaker.  He asked how we got so far removed from what our founding fathers envisioned to allow this leviathan federally dominated society we have today. He maintained Lincoln worship is fake news providing the example that in Europe they hold a different opinion of Lincoln and the Confederacy as they impartially study the period.  There is knowledge out there and in the past twenty years and with social media, it is becoming more widely available and understood.  Lincoln’s machine was the originator of fake news as they shut down 300+ newspapers who dared to publish views in opposition to the administration and it’s prosecution of the War and jailed thousands of dissenters.  They even purchased a German language Midwest newspaper in order to disseminate their message of propaganda to that region. If you go to Springfield IL even today you will see the deification of Lincoln with images everywhere. But, the War was about money and power.  Lincoln was reviled in the North as well as the South because he crushed dissent as a dictator.  One Northern newspaper postulated that if Lincoln were to take a dagger to the heart, it may be best for the country’s general welfare.  But after he was assassinated, the Republican party (and Springfield IL) capitalized on his martyrdom and the 1600 mile tour of the country with Lincoln’s corpse was designed and orchestrated to demonize and build a hatred for the South when in actuality, the nation largely rejoiced when news originally came to light of Lincoln’s death. But the Republican parties propaganda machine was hugely successful in promoting the fake news of Lincoln’s nobility and greatness.  And their sits Lincoln in his memorial in Washington DC as testament and our children continue to be indoctrinated by history and civics books today in their formal education about Lincoln’s noble crusade to free the slaves and preserve the Union.  

Alabama Division SCV Education Conference 2017

The Alabama Division SCV Education Conference was held on Saturday March 25th at the Doster Center.  It was again a very successful event thanks to the leadership and planning of Commander Jimmy Hill, 1st Lt. Commander Carl Jones and many others. Prattville Dragoons attended including Commander Stuart Waldo who had the pleasure of his nephew there also, Robert Young, Bill and Peggy Myrick, Larry Spears, Louis Turner Sr. and his son Louis Jr., Sam Reid, and Tyrone Crowley. 

A roster of great speakers included Ronald Kennedy, Donald Kennedy, Brion McClanahan and Thomas Dilorenzo (pictured below left to right). It was a treat hearing the presentations to inspire us to advance the Charge and in getting to fellowship some with friends from across the Division and elsewhere.  Terry Arthur from Mississippi presented Commander Waldo with a custom hand-painted and stained pine sign for the Dragoons in appreciation for helping to host the event in Prattville.