Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Christmas Social for 2022

 Members, friends and family of the Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 gathered again on Friday December 16th for their annual Christmas Social.  The event was held at the beautiful Buena Vista mansion in Prattville which was all decorated for the holiday season and enhanced for this evening with Wyatt Willis' large Battle flag hung from the front porch balcony.  At 6pm folks started arriving to enjoy Christmas songs played on the grand piano in the parlor and to have a serving of General Lee's eggnog and try some apple pie shine compliments of Comms Officer Doug Butler.  After a rousing playing and signing of Dixie, Chaplain Brantley blessed the food and everyone filed thru the front parlor to get a plate of delicious smoked turkey and all the trimmings catered by Smokin S BBQ.  Yummy peach cobbler and banana pudding too.  The Dragoons were blessed to host a number of special guests including Don Hall who has helped with the masonry renovations at Indian Hill and Henry Henzel who helped in the legal defense for the Florence Eternal Vigil Confederate monument.  Special guests also included members from the Montgomery Semple Camp including Division 1st Lt John Land.  Three recent Dragoon widows and widowers were also recognized to wish special Christmas grace upon.  Commander Waldo's wife read newspaper accounts from 1862 of the Christmas season in the Confederacy to put in perspective the occasion this night 160 years later.  Brigade Commander Harold Grooms read the Christmas story from the Bible to remind everyone also of the true reason for the season.  Dragoons' 1st Lt Commander Rob Schwartz played some guitar and sang some great sons including The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down as well as holiday favorites Christmas in Dixie and Elvis' Blue Christmas.  Doorprizes were drawn and included a number of special items donated by Dragoons including the Chaplain, Brigade Commander, Wyatt and Tyrone Crowley as well as the fabulous centerpieces provided by Quartermaster Myrick and his wife which included illuminated snowmen, nativity scene figures and reindeer stuffed animals.  Rob  led everyone in the singing of some classic Christmas carols before the evening was concluded with another rendition of Dixie and a closing prayer for travels and the holiday season wishes by the Chaplain.  It was another wonderful Dragoons' Christmas Social full of holiday cheer and remembrance.  

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 at the Vida Community Christmas Parade

The annual Vida Christmas parade was very well attended by spectators and the Dragoons of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 again provided an entry to fly the historic flags of the Confederacy and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Quartermaster Bill Myrick brought his truck and had a flag carrier set up in the bed in which he flew the Alabama State and the Confederate Battle flag among others.  1st Lt Rob Schwartz was dressed in period uniform and rode with Bill along with 2nd Lt Karl Wade and compatriot Tyler Suttle.  Commander Waldo drove his purple Charger decked with Confederate Battle flags flying from the rear passenger windows and compatriot Tyrone Crowley rode with him as they threw candy canes and other treats to the spectators all along County Road 19 which served as the parade route out and back from the Vida Community Center.  Neighbors in Vida prepared smoked butts, chicken and camp stew to raise money for the Community Center and following the parade, they provided a delicious BBQ dinner for all the parade participants and spectators.  A wonderful small town Christmas parade that truly rings in the holiday season for everyone.  

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle this Christmas Season

Members of SCV Camp 1524 rang the bell and wished shoppers a Merry Christmas at the Prattville Winn Dixie on Saturday December 10th.  This is an annual community service project the Dragoons of Camp 1524 work to support the great charitable work of the Salvation Army.  Members who participated included Camp Commander Stuart Waldo, 1st Lt Commander Rob Schwartz, 2nd Lt Karl Wade who coordinates the volunteer effort with the Salvation Army local office, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Color Sgt John Dennis, Chaplain Dave Brantley, Brigade Commander Harold Grooms and compatriots Bill Branch, Larry Spears, Dale Boyles, Thomas Griffith, Mike Thomas and Tyrone Crowley.  These stalwarts manned the kettle from 9am til 8pm this Saturday enjoying the fellowship with each other as well as their friends and neighbors passing  by shopping.  

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Participate in the Prattville Christmas Parade

The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 participated in the Prattville Christmas parade on Friday evening December 2nd.   Members met that morning to decorate the camp's little float  entry complete with a Christmas tree and lights and tinsel with a garland strand around the outside.  At the front of the float was a display for five flags including the SCV banner, the Alabama state flag, the Bonnie Blue, the Alabama Secession flag and the First National Flag of the Confederacy.  Adjutant Sutherland brought the decorations and members  including Commander, 1st Lt Cmdr Schwartz, Color Sgt Dennis, and compatriots Todd Rogers, and Thomas Griffith helped with the decorations.   Quartermaster Myrick provided the trailer and a generator to run the lights as the parade was conducted at night.  The parade was bigger than ever and the Dragoons' entry didn't enter the parade route until an hour after the start of the parade there were so many entries.  The parade ran down Court Street to Main Street to Northington to Stanley Jensen stadium.  Crowds were huge and spectators were four and five deep all along the route.  The same members who decorated the float were there later that evening for the parade excepting Todd but, Brigade Commander Grooms showed and walked the route to help keep the crowds back and children from getting to close to the vehicle and trailer.  Commander Waldo's children and wife also helped by riding in the truck and tossing candy including the requisite candy canes which were thrown  and wishes for a "Merry Christmas" expressed to the spectators who cheered heartily for the Dragoons entry.  

Dragoons of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Wish Prattville a Merry Christmas with Billboard Display

"Merry Christmas.  Christ's Blessings in the the Holiday Season."   The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 contracted a billboard display to wish their friends and neighbors in Prattville a Merry Christmas.  Members gathered in front of the electronic billboard included Commander Waldo, Brigade Commander Grooms, 1st Lt Cmdr Schwartz, Todd Rogers, and Thomas Griffith.   Photographer not shown in the photo was Adjutant Sutherland.   

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday Dec 2^nd, 7pm starting on Court St in downtown Prattville

 

Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing – Saturday, December 10^th from 9am to 8pm at the Prattville Winn Dixie Store

 

Dragoons Christmas Social – Friday Dec 16^th at the Buena Vista mansion in Prattville

 

Vida Christmas Parade – Saturday Dec 17^th at the Vida Community Center with lineup at noon, parade at 1pm, BBQ following

 

Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Parade and Festival – Saturday Feb 4^th Main St and the Village Green, Millbrook

SCV Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons' Chaplain Sets Flags on Confederate Veterans Graves at Rocky Mount Cemetery

Chaplain Brantley of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 replaced worn and weathered Confederate Battle flags with beautiful new flags at the graves of Confederate veterans resting in peace at Rocky Mount cemetery in Prattville AL on Thursday November 10, 2022.  The Chaplain has made this an annual pilgrimage to freshen these flags flying at this historic cemetery and honoring the service of these Confederate veterans who fought for their Alabama homes and families in the War for Southern Independence.