Prattville Dragoons Attend Sons of Confederate Veterans Unknown Soldier Monument Dedication in Luverne AL

The Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Ben Bricken Camp 296, along with Clanton's Battery hosted a very successful, honorable monument dedication at Confederate Veteran Park in Luverne today.  Estimated attendance was 500 with ten compatriots from Camp 1524, the Prattville Dragoons among that count including Commander Stuart Waldo, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Ryan King, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Myrick, Bill Gill, Jerry Clay Lyle, Rob and Cameron Heyward and Larry Spears.  The crowd was large, enthusiastic and sported all kinds of Southern Heritage dress from ladies and gentlemen in period dress to Mechanized Cavalry members in biker gear to Confederate themed t-shirts and SCV shirts.  The event was very peaceful and enjoyable with no disturbance and no antagonizing protesters.  The park is located on US Hwy 331 adjacent to the Dry Creek Campground in Luverne AL.  The campground is beautifully shaded and provided a pleasant area to congregate before the event.  The Confederate Veteran Park has a 60ft tall main flagpole flying the Confederate Battle flag and in back of this (from the highway) are shorter flagpoles flying the historic First, Second and Third National flags with educational placards at the base of each.   A couple of granite monuments were preexisting including one depicting the Great Seal of the Confederate States of America with George Washington atop his horse and another emblazoned with crossed Confederate Battle flags honoring Confederate soldiers with the inscription, "In remembrance of those who served, who gladly wore the grey, a way of life he fought to preserve, he lived it every day, 1861-1865, Confederate soldiers of Alabama, lest we forget."  The new monument appears as a headstone with the inscription "Unknown AL Soldier, CSA, Mother I have been found, I am home".  The program included a welcome by David Coggins who is owner of the park and Captain of Clanton's Battery.  David proclaimed, "I am just a country boy from Alabama who loves his heritage.  Then SE Alabama Brigade Commander Joe Clark of Elba gave a statement of how important recognizing these unknown Confederate soldiers is to him personally by enumerating eleven of his ancestors who fought and died in the War and were not accounted for in battlefields, POW prisons or cemeteries from Ohio throughout the South.  This was followed by a roll call of Confederate veteran ancestors from those who wished to call their names from the assembled crowd.  A bell was rung after each name.  Alabama Division Commander Jimmy Hill then spoke to the crowd and included a recitation of the new SCV Statement of Purpose, "We, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, having been commissioned by the Confederate Veterans themselves, retain our responsibility and right to adhere to the founding principles of the United States of America remembering the bravery, defending the honor and protecting the memory of our beloved Confederate Veterans, which includes memorials, images, symbols, monuments and gravesites for ourselves and future generations."  The unveiling of the new monument followed and three men from Clanton's Battery provided a ceremony including salute volleys with muskets.  The program wrapped up with a series of "rolling thunder" volleys from the five cannon facing Hwy 331 which produced reverberations and smoke which surely startled the passersby on the highway. A beautiful meaningful memorial dedication program for unknown Confederate soldiers.

Southern Heritage Festival and Ball

A number of Dragoons from SCV Camp 1524 attended the Southern Heritage Festival on Saturday August 19th at the Southern Cultural Center in Wetumpka AL.  Commander Waldo along with compatriots Larry Spears and Bill Gill attended.  There were a number of speakers including Dragoons compatriot Tyrone Crowley who provided a history of Jefferson Davis' life in period dress.  Bill Anthony of the Tallassee camp along with his wife Nickey gave a waltz dance demonstration and instruction which was awesome to see with everyone in period dress and the women in their hoop skirts.  That night there was a ball with the Un-Reconstructed String Band where everyone could practice what they learned earlier in the day.  There was food including hot dogs with all the fixin's and red beans and rice with cornbread.  Outside a period primitive camp was exhibited and Ron and son Caleb Carpenter camped there and then provided a presentation/discussion on the age extremes of the soldiers in the war Between the States.  There was also a cross cut saw demonstration and lard rendering with cracklin'.  A highlight for the youngsters was the mule and wagon rides thru the woods around the property. All was to benefit the Alabama I-85 Confederate Battle Flag Project.  Donations for this project can be made to the First Capitol Flaggers.

Mike Whorton Drives the Mule Drawn Wagon with Commander Waldo's Children

Tyrone Crowley as Jefferson Davis

Prattville Dragoons Workday at Millbrook's Historic Robinson Springs Cemetery

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 conducted another workday at the Robinson Springs cemetery on Hwy 14 in Millbrook AL on Saturday August 19th.  Workers included Commander Stuart Waldo, Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Mike Stanley, James Spears, Bill Gill, Carl French from the Cradle of Confederacy camp in Montgomery, 1st Lt Harold Grooms and compatriot Jerry Clay Lyle.  The grass had not been mowed in the past month so spots were tall and tough to mow thru but, Jerry Lyle brought his “Dixie Chopper" adorned with flags and stickers which made short work of it along with Carl French's big fast Turf Tiger.   Carl, after making some repairs to his machine on Friday, was able to coax some work from his zero turn mower.  The cemetery looks better than at any time this year thanks to all the hard work from those who participated as part of the Alabama Division cemtery guardian program.  Also, on Tuesday August 22nd, Bill Myrick cleaned the Doster family cemetery.  There are at least 2 Confederate veterans buried there and a War of 1812 veteran.

Prattville Dragoons Lawncare of Historic Robinson Springs Cemetery

Three compatriots from SCV Camp 1524 showed up at Robinson Springs cemetery on Tuesday August 15th to get a head start on the workday scheduled for this coming Saturday August 19th. Tyrone Crowley brought his riding mower, Bill Gill brought his trusty weed eater and Larry Spears brought a walk behind mower. Approximately 1/3 of the cemetery was cleaned up concentrating on the front part, closest to Highway 14, so that the improvements could be seen by the public. 

Pictured is Bill Gill with his head down and working, Tyrone on his mower, partial results of our clean up and Larry with Tyrone’s mower. 

Dragoons of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Have Successful Dixie Butt Fundraiser

Saturday morning August 12th, the Dragoons met at Herrod’s Chevron in Prattville to distribute Dixie butts and ribs that were sold during for the camp's annual fundraiser. Many members arrived early and helped bag the smoked butts and ribs which were purchased from Smokin S in preparation for the rush of customers that came between 8 AM and 10 AM. Thanks to Allen Herrod for allowing us to use a portion of his lot at Herrod’s Chevron for the distribution. Several Dragoons participated in the distribution including Commander Waldo,  1st Lt Grooms, 2nd Lt Jenks, Chaplain Snowden, Treasurer Leverette, Quartermaster Myrick, Adjutant Sutherland who handled the receipts and master list for distribution as well as compatriots Larry and James Spears, Bill Gill and Will Dismukes. Fundraiser chairman Sutherland worked extremely hard to keep up with the money and tickets so the process would go smoothly on Saturday.  Commander Waldo and Quartermaster Myrick met at Smokin S Bar B Q and brought the boxes of meat to the distribution site.  The morning of the distribution is always a fun gathering as we get to gather around the trucks holding our bounty of meat and fellowship and celebrate the culmination of our fundraiser.  Many folks to thank for a successful fundraiser but, most of all, we appreciate our members and friends who bought meat and/or made donations to our fundraiser. This is where we get the bulk of our money to spend on Confederate Heritage projects during the coming year. The Executive Committee makes every effort to stretch every dollar received so that we fulfill the Charge by General Steven D. Lee.  Deo Vindice!

Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting for August 2017

Despite a stormy night with flash flood warnings, the Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524, held another enjoyable and impressive meeting last night. More fundraiser money was collected including several donations; collected dues and accepted donations for  the Confederate Museum being built at SCV HQ in Columbia, Tennessee on our property. The camp is close to reaching the goal of $1000 for the museum donation for which a commemorative plaque in the camp’s name will be placed in the museum.  After Chaplain Snowden opened the meeting with a devotional and prayer, Color Sgt Dismukes led everyone in the pledge and salutes to the flags and Commander Waldo recited the SCV Charge and went thru the list of upcoming events and announcements for the camp. 

Dragoon Sam Reid presented what was arguably the best of several presentations he has shared with the camp. Sam created and printed some extensive handouts for those in attendance. He talked about his Confederate ancestors, particularly 1 Lt. Thomas Taylor, who wrote several letters home which the family has kept in their possession as historic treasures. Sam detailed Thomas' career with the 6th Alabama Regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia. Sadly, the last letter that Sam referenced was one from Lt. Taylor’s Commanding Officer notifying the family of his death in 1864. A touching, magnificent presentation. 

The Dragoons welcomed several visitors and 4 potential new members including Mrs. Jean Bradley, President of the Montgomery UDC chapter, who brought her 2 nephews.  R. Hayward and his son also attended as potential members. Josh Stover, who has already submitted his SCV application was also scheduled to attend but was not able to due to the weather which caused a serious wreck blocking his route.  Always pleased when potential members visit for camp meetings and hope all return and join the SCV.

Below are some photos from the meeting: A pre-meeting crowd view; Chaplain Snowden giving a devotional; Sam Reid during his presentation;  Mrs. Jean Bradley and her nephews.

Prattville Dragoons Join Alabama Sons of Confederate Veterans for Tour "Civil War" Naval Museum

Some Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 toured the Naval Museum in Columbus on Saturday, August 5. The event was organized by the Alabama Division. Alabama SCV member and Confederate Naval expert Shannon Fontaine served as the tour guide for the event. Alabama Division Commander Jimmy Hill reported that it was a great day with over 50 people in attendance.  He thanked Shannon Fontaine, Ol' Jack, for giving the tour of the Museum.  SCV members were greeted by Georgia Division Commander Scott Gilbert and the local SCV Camp Commander to welcoming everyone to Georgia. Dragoon compatriot Tyrone Crowley noted that Shannon Fontaine was in full Confederate Naval dress and provided a fine tour, with many details provided from his wide knowledge of ships, boats, and events of the WBTS naval history.   The tour lasted about two hours.  Bill Branch and Dede, Tyrone Crowley, Karl Wade and Harold Grooms attended the Museum tour from the Dragoons. 1st Lt Grooms reported that it is an excellent facility featuring exhibits from virtually every naval engagement in the war.  Harold noted that Shannon Fontaine, when providing details on the Battle of Mobile Bay, stated Farragut did not say, "Damn the torpedos!"  but in reality said, "Torpedos?  Damn!"  which was followed by a detailed report on casualties sustained by both sides. The badly outnumbered Confederates gave a good account of themselves during this and all the naval skirmishes.  Harold and Karl took in the Infantry Museum tour outside Ft Benning following the tour of the naval museum. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for August 2017

Mark Levin recently released his newest book entitled “Rediscovering Americanism: And the Tyranny of Progressivism”. According to Amazon, “In Rediscovering Americanism, Mark Levin revisits the founders’ warnings about the perils of overreach by the federal government and concludes that the men who created our country would be outraged and disappointed to see where we've ended up. Levin questions: How do we save our exceptional country? Because our values are in such a precarious state, he argues that a restoration to the essential truths on which our country was founded has never been more urgent. Understanding these principles, in Levin’s words, can “serve as the antidote to tyrannical regimes and governments.”” Although Levin’s formal education included a Political Science degree from Temple at the young age of 19 with summa cum laude honors as well as a law degree also from Temple, he unfortunately apparently cannot claim a cogent knowledge of the single historic event in our nation’s history which precipitated this decline in our nation’s principles. He decries the loss of liberty and growth of the overreaching tyrannical government as compared to what the framers envisioned but he refuses to recognize how pivotal the War for Southern Independence and the ultimate surrender of the Confederate forces and government meant to the perpetuation of the American “experiment” and the corruption of our democracy/representative republic.

I have listened to Levin often and if you can excuse his rude and abrasive demeanor, you might mistake him for a proponent of conservative policy and personal liberty. Then he displays his unequivocal ignorance by espousing Lincoln as the savior of our fruited plains. “September 2, 2014. Mark Levin again displayed his ignorance on his radio show by praising Abraham Lincoln. Mark (correctly) thinks the Russians are terrible aggressors for invading the Ukraine. For some reason, when Lincoln did the same thing, even more ruthlessly, in 1861, that was just fine. Because American tyranny is good, because Old Glory, Stars and Stripes Forever. Or something. Levin (spouts) increasingly asinine remarks on (his) radio (show) about the American Civil War and the Confederate States of America. The Irate One stated that the Confederacy represented an "illegitimate form of government" based on "dangerous rebellion." If that is true of the Confederacy, it is also true of the United States, who came into being in the same way: through secession and a declaration of independence. Furthermore, the Confederate States were not in "rebellion" to the Constitution or anything else. They were merely exercising their right to self-government under the very American concept of "the consent of the governed." They were merely following the legal means of seceding as outlined in textbooks at West Point, as commonly understood since the beginning of the American republic: sovereign bodies that accede to a union of political states may also secede from the same union when it suits their needs and purposes to do so. Abraham Lincoln himself stated as much in a speech to Congress while he himself was but a congressman, “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.” Any government that forces a population into its fold through force is tyranny. The Northern states were on the side of tyranny during the Civil War. They did not fight to "free the slaves" as is commonly and erroneously taught to every third-grader; they fought to force the South back into a union it no longer wanted; the slaves were totally negotiable. The Civil War was like most wars, fought over territorial control, the right to govern and the right to tax. (Money and resources.) Abraham Lincoln was a flaming disaster to the United States, clearly the worst president in our history. He started a war of tyranny and subjugation and killed 630,000 people in the process. Yet, Lincoln is Mark Levin's hero. It figures.” (http://confederategray.blogspot.com/2014/09/mark-levin-flaming-ignoramus-on-civil.html?_sm_au_=iVVQsRVKZNWF0f4N)

Mark Levin enjoys a syndicated radio show which airs on over 300 stations reaching millions of listeners. The forces of ignorance and hate are strong. For generations, schools have taught a distorted history which demonizes those Confederate heroes who dared defend their rights and their homes, taking up arms to oppose the aggressions of the Yankee invaders and tyrannical oppressors. Against incredible odds, our Confederate ancestors fought thru deprivations and immense hardship to preserve a nation constructed on the founding constitutional ideals. We must preserve the true history of the South and vindicate the Cause as the Charge implores us. It may seem a daunting task as the forces that oppose us are on the offensive. We must work within our local communities with outreach and education. We must continue to work at the state and national levels for heritage defense. As the Division 1st Lt said in the recent Alabama Confederate magazine, “Each of us has the ability to make a difference. We must offer whatever time and talents we can to building our Camps and our organization.” This is the most important period of the year to confirm your commitment, the annual period where we renew our SCV membership to renew our pledge to uphold the Charge, the single most important thing you can do to honor your Confederate ancestor. At the same time, this is also our camp’s annual fundraising period, our Dixie Butt sale which raises monies for all the work we do in our local community from donations to awards to education and outreach. Step forward to combat the forces of ignorance and intolerance. Step forward to vindicate the cause for which your Confederate ancestor fought, to defend the Confederate soldier's good name and guard his history, to emulate his virtues and perpetuate those principles which he loved and which made him glorious.

Prattville Dragoons Announce August 2017 Camp Meeting

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 will host their next meeting on Thursday August 10th at the Shoney’s in Prattville on Cobb’s Ford Road. Fellowship and partaking of the delicious Shoney’s buffet or menu items begins at 6:00 and includes Chaplain Snowden’s enjoyable updated slide show presentation. The camp meeting will begin at 7:00. The guest speaker this month is the Dragoons' own Camp Historian Sam Reid who will speak on Confederates from Autauga County.  Sure to be an enjoyable time and an educational discussion by our knowledgeable compatriot.  The Dixie butt fundraiser wraps up and the final tally will be announced as well as news of upcoming events and other camp news.  All are welcome.

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Alabama Division Field Trip to Columbus GA Civil War Naval Museum – Saturday August 5th at 10:30am central and attendees are requested to wear SCV or Confederate attire

Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting – Thursday August 10th at 7pm at the Shoney’s in Prattville on Cobbs Ford Rd

Prattville Dragoons Dixie Butt Fundraiser – distribution on August 12th at Herrod’s Chevron in Prattville from 8-10am.

Alabama Division DEC – Saturday August 12th, 10am til at the SCV Library at the Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury

Clanton’s Artillery Batery Raising Headstone for Unknown Soldier – Sunday Aug 27th at 2pm to include cannon firing

Prattville Dragoons Fall Muster – October TBD, at Will Dismukes property in Millbrook AL

Private Richard Head Grave Marking – hosted by the General Richard Montgomery Chapter SAR, Saturday October 21, 2017 at Bethlehem Cemetery near Louisville AL; the Dragoons will participate with laying of a wreath

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for August 2017

     When we look In the Bible in Psalms 55: 1-23, David was overwhelmed with the weight of external pressures and internal anguish. We can learn from David how to handle burdens that come our way. Burdens can come in many emotional, spiritual, and physical forms. They all feel heavy and cause weariness. Every one of us can identify with David’s desire to run away and be at rest.

     Some of the loads we carry are not part of God’s plan for us. Some are in the form of guilt that lingers while we try to function which brings on worry about the future. Then we become bitter because we believe life has not been fair. These burdens aren’t from the Lord, and He won’t help you carry what He has told you to release.

     Other burdens, however, are entrusted to us by God. He gives us responsibilities, which can weigh us down, and He sometimes allows relational difficulties that tear at our heart. And when such problems and trials persist, they can drain us of our vitality and the result can be overwhelming. In every circumstance in life God lovingly looks over them before it reaches us. From His perspective, those things that are too heavy for us are opportunities for dependence upon Him. God never intends for any of His children to carry a burden without His help. He tells us to give it to Him and promises to sustain us.

     Casting your cares upon God means releasing them fully into His control. We will no longer be free to manage the situations toward our personal desired outcome, but the freedom Christ offers will release us from the burdensome weigh on us. Remember that God’s peace will sustain us as we trust Him.

     Let’s remember all of those that are on a prayer list. 

Alabama Division Field Trip to Columbus GA Civil War Naval Museum

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Alabama Division has scheduled a tour of the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA for August 5, 2017. This is a most interesting museum and formerly was named the Confederate Naval Museum until political correctness naming.  Back earlier in the year in January, the Division had to cancel this trip due to a winter ice storm.  The tour of the museum is scheduled to start at 10am cst.  There will be a tour guide to lead the group thru the museum but smaller groups will break out.  All are encouraged to attend and wear SCV or Confederate clothing.  Admission rates are adult $7.50, seniors and military $6.50, students $6 and children under six are free.