Alabama Division SCV Robert E. Lee Birthday Celebration Program at the Alabama State Archives

The Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans held their annual celebration of the birthday of General Robert E. Lee and remembrance of Alabama's Secession Day at the Alabama State Archives in downtown Montgomery Alabama on Saturday January 20th.  AL Division Commander Jimmy Hill welcomed everyone and Division Chaplain Dr. Charles Baker then provided an Invocation and brought the program to a close with a Benediction.  The Prattville Dragoons' Tyrone Crowley then read the Alabama Secession Ordinance portraying the Honorable William Brooks on January 11, 1861.  The colors were then posted during which a video was played of the raising of the mega-Battle flag at the I-22 Cordova exit.  Representatives from various heritage organizations then extended their greetings to the assembled crowd in the auditorium including Pat Godwin from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Tonnia Maddox from the Order of Confederate Rose, Hannah Appleton from the Children of the Confederacy, Tommy Rhodes from the Military Order of the Stars and Bars and Pat McMurray from the Division Mechanized Cavalry.   Each gave statements illustrating the greatness of Lee often citing quotations from period peers.  Ross Moore then entertained everyone with Southern period and heritage songs played on a guitar, a slide guitar, a banjo and a Celtic hammered dulcimer.  Alabama 1st Lt. Commander Carl Jones gave the keynote speech, a "Vindication of Robert E. Lee" reminding us all of the virtues and qualities of Lee which made him such a Southern hero as a Christian example and a military leader.  Much of Carl's speech dwelt with the sovereignty of the states and the constitutionality of secession which although Lee did not proactively condone, nonetheless supported in defense of his home state of Virginia with the invasion of the Federal Army.   Perhaps the highlight was the presentation to the Archives was a check for $10,000 for historic flag conservation from the Alabama Division SCV. 

Members of the Prattville Dragoons in Attendance

Jimmy Hill Welcomes Everyone

Tyrone Crowley as William Brooks

Ross Moore on Guitar

Alabama Division SCV Officers Make Presentation of the Check to the Archives