Prattville Dragoons Attend UDC and Ladies Memorial Confederate Memorial Day Events in Montgomery

The United Daughters of the Confederacy hosted their annual Confederate Memorial Day event on Monday April 22nd on the grounds of the Alabama state capitol overlooking the beautiful Confederate monument there.  The keynote speaker was Col. John Eidsmoe and music was provided by Kim Shannon with Southern Spirit as well as Bob Miller on the bagpipes.  It was a beautiful spring day enjoyed by all in attendance.

On Friday April 26th, the Ladies Southern Memorial Association held their 153rd annual Confederate Memorial Day service at the Oakwood Cemetery Pavilion in Montgomery.   Ms. Leslie Kirk is the President of the LMA of Montgomery and organized a splendid program to salute all Confederate veterans and veterans of other wars. She was very moved by the significance of this day as the ladies of this organization who, as she commented, have passed on to their reward had to be looking down on this event with happiness because the LMA banner was displayed. It has been recently conserved and is able to be displayed at outdoor events in this improved condition. It is a very beautiful banner and the original colors of purple and white are prominent once again. The banner is estimated to be over 120 years old.  The program included singing, pledges and salutes, greetings/remarks from dignitaries and Honor Guard and cannon salutes. There were a goodly number of spectators, including some visitors who just happened to be coming to the Confederate part of the cemetery and decided to stay for the entire service.  It was again a beautiful sunny spring day in Alabama and a wonderful remembrance of our Confederate veteran ancestors.  A Confederate salute to these strong noble ladies who persevere against any hardship they face and always succeed in carrying the torch passed to them by their predecessors.

Prattville Dragoons Clean Area and Raise New Flag at the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans I-65 Battle Flag Site

After getting Robinson Springs cemetery in excellent condition with a workday on Saturday morning April 20th, the attention to clean up and maintenance duties moved to the I-65 Flag Site. Beir Butler and Larry Spears trimmed with weed eaters as the grass/weeds were getting rather high. Frank Pelt came along and mowed the area and the whole area adjacent to I-65 looks great now.  Beir and Larry raised a new flag and a brisk breeze caught it and made the flag proudly wave above the Interstate. The men heard many horns sounding with approval  from the traffic.

Beir agreed to join the I-65 Flag committee as a member on stand by to lower and raise the flag before and after high wind predictions and help perform other duties as necessary. Beir is welcomed to the group as some hard working members have been lost recently; notably Bill Gill and Don Owens.  It was a great day for DIXIE!

Living History Weekend, Confederate Memorial Park, Marbry AL

Prattville Dragoons Workday at Millbrook's Robinson Springs Cemetery

The Dragoons worked at Robinson Springs Cemetery on Saturday morning April 20th in preparation for their Confederate Memorial Day program on Monday and got the grounds looking very spiffy with the help of a volunteer commercial lawn cutting business owner. Paul Angelette, owner of Low Cut Lawn Care LLC, stopped by to offer his services as a donation to our efforts to keep this cemetery looking presentable for those interred here and for the community.  His help was certainly appreciated. Camp members who also worked mowing and trimming around the cemetery on Saturday morning included Bill Myrick, Connor Lee, Harold Grooms and Larry Spears. Commander Waldo came by to lend his support but did not bring coffee!  

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Celebrate Confederate History and Heritage Month with Electronic Billboard Announcement

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Presents JROTC Hunley Awards for Local High Schools

Dragoon's Quartermaster and Army veteran Bill Myrick represented Camp 1524 presenting the SCV Hunley JROTC awards at Prattville, Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka High Schools.  Army JROTC Cadet Marcel Schulz received the award at Stanhope Elmore High School on Wednesday morning April 10th.  Air Force JROTC Cadet Cody Melton was the recipient of the Hunley award on Friday evening April 12th at Prattville High School.  Cody plans to serve in the US military following graduation.  The following week, on Thursday morning April 16th, Quartermaster Myrick presented the award to Army JROTC Cadet Inge at Wetumpka High School.  The Dragoons have been sponsoring and presenting the Hunley award at local high schools for years now. 

Dragoons Attend National Confederate Memorial Service at Stone Mountain Park, Georgia

1st Lt Harold Grooms, 2nd Lt Karl Wade, and compatriot Sam Reid attended the National Confederate Memorial Service event at Stone Mountain on Saturday April 6th.  Harold reported it was a great time had by all with good music and inspiring speakers.  The crowd size was estimated at 1000 (per some of the organizers). One outstanding point highlighted was that a bill was announced which is before the Georgia legislature now. If passed it will be the strongest monument protection law in the nation. It reportedly has a lot of support.