Prattville Dragoons Cemetery Cleanup Workdays for April, Confederate History and Heritage Month

The “ NOT QUITE Over The Hill Gang” reported for duty at Robinson Springs Cemetery on Friday 20 April on a beautiful Spring morning. The gang, who ranged in age from early 60’s to 90, made short work of the designated task to continue to give the Confederate veterans and others buried here a respectable place of final rest. Workers on this day were Wayne Sutherland, James and Larry Spears, Tom Crowley, Bill Gill,  and Bill Myrick. The cemetery was in bloom with beautiful yellow wildflowers as you can see in one of the pictures below. You will also see Bill Myrick plowing through the growth with his mower. Carl French of the Cradle of Confederacy Camp will complete the job by cutting the bulk of the cemetery with his zero turn mower.  Of course, when the work was done, the white haired (or no hair as the case may be) crew compared notes on our aches, pains and various maladies that affect senior adults. But, this was a note worthy effort as part of Confederate History and Heritage Month.

The same day, compatriot Myrick himself performed the first clean up of the season at the Doster Cemetery.  Bill reported the field had been recently bush-hogged so it wasn't as difficult as some prior occasions.  No snakes were seen but Bill found a snake skin left behind. Fresh flags were placed at t he graves as part of Confederate History and Heritage Month.  Three Confederate veteran graves are located at this small family cemetery.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Confederate Memorial Day Observance

The Dragoons held a very moving ceremony on Monday evening April 23rd to commemorate Confederate Memorial Day.  The program was held at the Dragoons monuments on Washington St at the Prattville Primary School.  Our Confederate ancestors were honored in a very proper manner. Commander Stuart Waldo was the emcee welcoming everyone and enumerating the many things the camp has done throughout this Confederate History and Heritage Month of April.  Compatriot Tyrone Crowley spoke on the Confederate Memorial Day history as well as the history of Prattville's Confederate and Dragoon monuments  Chaplain Tom Snowden sang some period gospel music including "How Firm a Foundation" and "Amazing Grace" and then he and 1st Lt. Grooms led everyone in Dixie.  Bob Miller played the bagpipes with a "Scotland the Brave" intro as well as "Amazing Grace" during the wreath setting and a closing on the pipes.  Bob Whaley and the 33rd Alabama re-enactors posted colors and placed the wreath.  It was a beautiful moving ceremony on a beautiful spring day in Alabama.  

UDC Confederate Memorial Day Observance at Alabama State Capitol

The United Daughters of the Confederacy put on a tremendous memorial ceremony at the Alabama state capitol that was very well attended. The program was conducted near the beautiful Confederate monument on the capitol grounds.  Compatriot Bobby Horton provided a music program and Bob Miller provided bagpipes for the ceremony.  Dr. Harry Reeder was the keynote speaker. Dr. Reeder is the Senior Pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham AL.   He has a radio ministry entitled "InPerspective" which airs weekdays on stations across the southeast.  His time is increasingly devoted to leadership development, Christian Manhood Seminars and lectures on the War Between the States with a biographical focus on Generals Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington and he has written a book published by Crossway entitled "The Leadership Dynamic" as well as additional theological works.  (https://harryreeder.wordpress.com/about/).  He spoke on the reconciliation following the WBTS and how that was the primary feeling in the country from the late 1800's to 1940.  It was a great event honoring our Confederate ancestors and included a portion where a memorial bell was rung for those heroes announced.  The Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 were well represented at this UDC Memorial including twelve in attendance: Sam Reid, Tyrone Crowley, Harold Grooms, Commander Waldo, Karl Wade, Dave Thompson, Rob Heyward, Bill Myrick, Bill Gill, Don Owens, Josh Stover and Larry Spears.

A Day with Jefferson Davis at the First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery AL

Prattville Dragoon Tyrone Crowley and wife Carol participated in an event Saturday April 14th at the First White House of the Confederacy, another of many activities for Confederate History and Heritage Month.  Tyrone played the part of President Jefferson Davis in "A Day With Davis", while Carol appeared as his wife Varina.  Also attending were Dragoons Bill Myrick, Larry Spears, Bill Gill, Dave Thompson, and Rob Heyward.  Rob Heyward will be the speaker for the Ladies Memorial Association (LMA) at their Confederate Memorial Day Program at 2 p.m. on Thursday, 26 April 2018, at the Oakwood Cemetery Pavilion in Montgomery.  The LMA has held this commemoration every year since 1866.

               This event was hosted by the Talisi Belles Chapter of the Order of Confederate Rose and managed by Andy Bodenheimer of Tallassee, who also acted impressively the part of Senator William Lowndes Yancey.  The event was attended by reenactors from around the state, who formed the President's Honor Guard, commanded by Colonel Scotty Myers of the 31st Alabama Reenactors group.

               President Davis (Tyrone), led by his Honor Guard, was officially introduced as he came out the front door of the First White House at 10 a.m., flanked by his Honor Guard.  He welcomed the approximately 100 spectators who awaited the start of the event, which lasted 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and was enjoyed by several hundred visitors to the First White House, who came and went during those hours.  After an invocation, President Davis spoke the same words to the crowd he had said in 1886 when he came to Montgomery to dedicate the cornerstone of the Confederate Monument there.  At noon, also from the front porch of the First White House, President Davis presented the speech which he saw as his last public statement to the people of the South, a speech he made before the Mississippi State Legislature in 1884.

               Those participating and attending all were pleased with the day's activities, as shown by the happy banter and positive comments from visitors.  The fact that there was a Second Amendment rally at the Capitol beginning after noon also added to the patriotic atmosphere yesterday.  

Confederate Memorial Day Observances

Monday April 23 10:00AM - 12:30PM Annual Confederate Memorial Holiday event at the Confederate Memorial Monument on state capitol grounds, Montgomery, Alabama. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Harry Reeder with music by the renowned Bobby Horton. 5+ cannon will be firing. Attendees may announce the name and unit of one Confederate ancestor. Hosted by Alabama UDC. 

Monday April 23 6:00PM - Prattville Dragoon Confederate Memorial Day program at the Dragoon monument on Washington Street, Prattville Primary School. We will have a bagpiper, a short program and some appropriate music.  Dragoons, come and support your camp’s memorial program! Bring lawn chairs, family and friends. The public is invited.

Thursday April 26 2:00PM -  152nd  Annual Confederate Memorial Day Program sponsored by the Ladies Memorial Association of Montgomery (the South's oldest women's organization) at Montgomery's Oakwood Cemetery.  Speaker is Major Robert Heyward.  Event will include a flag setting.  Free and public is invited. 

Thursday April 26 6:00PM -   Confederate Memorial Circle at Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma AL; sponsored by the UDC Selma Chapter 53.  The program will feature keynote speaker Mr. Chris McIlwain of Tuscaloosa and Ms. Melissa Scott on bagpipes as well as a Roll Call of Honor.  

Dragoons Tyrone Crowley and Sam Reid Attended the JCC Sanders Lectures in Tuscaloosa

For the first time in recent memory, the speakers were not university PhD’s, but specialized in a certain field of endeavor or topic.  Mr. Crick was the first speaker relating that the widow of R E Rodes (for whom the Tuscaloosa SCV camp is named) burned all his papers after his death because “he was a Southern gentlemen” and so didn’t need anyone judging him when he wasn’t there to defend himself.  This makes research on Rodes difficult but he is recognized as one of the best division commanders in the ANV.

            Mr. Stocker provided details of the 26th Alabama Brigade which was at the forefront of the great victory at Chancellorsville.  Mr. Stocker, from PA, apologized for being a Yankee who had a great-grandpa in the 153rd PA Regt.  One interesting detail he gave is that Union soldiers and their leadership at Chancellorsville reported hearing Confederate troops moving in around them, but were ignored by higher authority—thus the big surprise when the attack came.

            Professor Rhone of UA did the JCC Sanders presentation and read a verse from an inspiring poem dedicated to the cadets who fought in the WBTS.  He said U of Ala started in 1831 as just another academy, but became a military training school in order to instill more discipline in the (male) students.  Cadets wanted to quit school and go join the Confederate Army, but President Davis urged that they stay and complete their training, since the Confederate Army needed officers.

The last speaker presented a long, fascinating slide show, the last part of which was in 3-D (with glasses).  Visit  The Center for Civil War Photography website - https://museums.ua.edu/event/22nd-annual-j-c-c-sanders-lecture-series/.  Even the refreshments and the lunch were good all thanks to Mr. Paul “Bear" Bryant Jr. and the UA staff.

Dragoons Celebrate Confederate History and Heritage Month with Billboard Announcements

Camp 1524 has placed ads on three electronic billboards in the Prattville, Millbrook and Wetumpka area to celebrate Confederate History and Heritage month to run throughout the month of April.