SCV Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons February Meeting on Valentine's Day

               The Dragoons celebrated Valentine’s Day with a wonderful camp meeting complete with red roses, heart-shaped centerpieces on linen tablecloths and, a fine meal capped with strawberry shortcake.   A change of venue was required when the prior place stopped serving dinner to accommodate the camp meeting time so the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville graciously offered their meeting space which provided ample seating even arranged with more intimate round tables.  There were over thirty in attendance and many enjoyed the food which was setup and provided by the camp including chicken tenders, a variety of croissant sandwiches, potato and pasta salads, and fruit and vegetable trays.  A few ate their strawberry shortcakes first though.  1^st Lt Grooms brought roses which were distributed to all the ladies in attendance during the first portion of the meeting. 

A slideshow of photos of compatriot Bill Gill was displayed throughout the meeting time as a remembrance of his passing and that his funeral was actually coincident the same day.  Bill was remembered also in Chaplain Snowden’s opening and closing prayers.  Commander Waldo read the SCV Charge and made the announcements including all the upcoming events including the Millbrook Mardi Gras parade and festival and the Division Brigade Flag Days coming up in March.  The Indian Hill plans were highlighted including cleanup and historical sign dedication, the Southern Victory Campaign and the camp’s donation to that initiative as well as to the Wetumpka Police Department for tornado relief. 

Mrs. Dana Casey Jones then made her presentation about the War from the diary of Confederate nurse Kate Cumming who published a book based on her personal notes from her diary.  Kate was a Scottish immigrant who settled in Mobile and embraced the South and the Confederacy.  A pioneering nurse who worked tirelessly throughout the War caring for wounded soldiers, she kept detailed notes of her experiences and also her opinions as to the truth and importance of the Cause relating this back to her Scottish heritage of a struggle for sovereignty from British rule. Dana’s passion for the subject being a nurse as well as strong Confederate herself was quite evident.  It was an inspiring topic and message for an outstanding Valentine’s camp meeting.