Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Chaplain’s Column- The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection in Our Lives

 

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay'  (Matthew 28:5-6).

 

Easter has come and gone once again. I hope you had a great Lenten and Easter season. If you are like many, you marked the day by attending a wonderful Easter service, with family pictures in front of the Cross and then on to a festive celebration and a large supper full of family, friends, and way too much food. One of my favorite foods, ironically, is deviled eggs.

You no doubt (I hope) heard a sermon about the Resurrection and sang many songs about our risen Lord. Easter is indeed a day of celebration, of victory! Our team won! Jesus defeated sin and death- for us.

It is proper to celebrate on Sunday after marking the solemn night of Good Friday, the betrayal before, the torture and the crucifixion. My wife and I visited a local Methodist church who has a room dedicated to the "stations of the Cross." It is a very somber and reflective experience. You leave in tears. You wonder (marvel) that God would send his only son to do this for us. Then we celebrate with gladness and thanks on Sunday.

Then what? What happens on Monday and the days after? The United Kingdom offers the Monday after as a national holiday. Given what I have seen of the UK of late I doubt it's because they went to church too much on Sunday.

Statistically, here in America, the Sunday after Easter is the least- attended service of the year in most churches!

Did we exhaust ourselves for one day? Do we mark the crucifixion and resurrection every day in our lives or just when it fits into our schedule? Do we thank God frequently or just at Christmas and/ or Easter?

One pastor noted that "the resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than an event to be celebrated, it's a power to be experienced daily" (Hodges). Another gave seven reasons why the resurrection is important to us.

The number one reason is that the resurrection is the basis of our spirituality, christianity. Without it, there would be no defeat of death. Other reasons include that the resurrection is the cure for our fear of death. The grave is not the end for believers!

Additionally, the resurrection helps us  suffer in a world of emptiness and deception. Look around and see the world where the devil runs wild. But we win in the end! The devil loses and is thrown into the lake of fire.

God sending his son, Jesus Christ means the veil has been torn and we will be with our loved ones one day in the New Jerusalem.

So don't mark the importance of the resurrection in your lives one day of the year. Do it every day! Go to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving and praise!

 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Commander's Column – The Assault on the Institution of the Traditional American Family

 

“Our enemies are a traditionless, homeless race.  From the days of Cromwell to the present day they have been the disturbers of the peace of the world….After what has happened the last two years, my only wonder is that we consented to live for so long a time in association with such miscreants.  Were it ever proposed to enter again into a Union with such a people, I could no more consent to do it than to trust myself in a den of thieves.”  (Jefferson Davis, Dec 16, 1861)  One of the established reasons for the secession of the Southern states was the recognition that the Southern and Northern peoples, cultures, and way of life were so disparate  that they were incompatible.  The Southern economy was based on agriculture while the North was developing more industry; Northern industry used many raw goods produced in the South and sought to retain the Southern populace as a captured market for their finished goods.  Much of the South was still rural and wilderness and required settling and land development.  Religion and mostly Protestantism was embedded deeply in Southern culture.  Southern culture adhered to a patriarchal model with the family unit working together important to the success of their farms.  The North was the center of most immigration in the 19th century which created a mottled society diluted from a sense of shared tradition gained from the founding colonists and nation’s fathers. 

Today the striking cultural differences between the red states and blue states are as glaring as in the antebellum period.  Texit is gaining momentum with Texans not identifying with the rest of the country’s direction including allowing unrestricted illegal immigration across the border there.  Many on social media share the same feelings as this poster on Twitter (X), “I find it really hard to even refer to them as “fellow Americans”. Leftists are furiously doing their best to destroy the future for our children and grandchildren. I have absolutely NOTHING in common with these people.”  I ran across an article “The Death of the Nuclear Family” on Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com/death-of-typical-american-nuclear-family-economic-crisis-marriage-divorce-2024-3) which stated,  “The 'typical American family' was always a blip. It's time to rethink it.  The nuclear family (is) officially over, the model is beginning to look more like a fringe lifestyle choice than the bedrock of American society.”  The family structure on which western civilization largely developed is fringe now.  “The demise has sparked no shortage of (often racist, sexist, and homophobic) political backlash.  Radical family-abolition scholars such as M.E. O'Brien, whose 2023 book "Family Abolition: Capitalism and the Communizing of Care" argues that the contained family structures "cannot carry the immense burden of work placed on them."  In an early 2020 cover story for The Atlantic, the conservative columnist David Brooks declared the nuclear family "a mistake."”  Family-abolitionist? 

Further along in this diatribe, “In white, middle-class families, men earned the wages that supported the family and their wives raised the children and ran the home. The nuclear family became a microcosm of capitalist self-sufficiency and the consumerism that came with it.”  Problem with this racist take is that it ignores the established fact that blacks in the 20th century embodied the nuclear family model and it was during this period that fewer black children were being raised by welfare mothers and destined for incarceration.  “The nuclear family became a microcosm of capitalist self-sufficiency and the consumerism that came with it.”  So, we’re beginning to see where this article is taking us, an embrace of LGBQT environmentalist socialism.  The author states that the nuclear family was unstable as evidenced by soaring divorce rates when no-fault divorce laws were implemented.  So now, was it the family unit that was the problem or liberal judges and legislators creating instability?  Further in this illustrative article, “The biggest fallout we see today is in the childcare crisis, where the self-reliance inherent to the nuclear-family model resulted in women bearing the burden of raising children. Although an overwhelming majority of women now work outside the home, they continue to shoulder the bulk of unpaid caregiving labor for children and aging relatives. They also end up doing more household chores — laundry, cleaning, and cooking are all primarily done by women.”  Oh the horror.  The burden of child rearing.  Of creating and nurturing a home. 

“The wealthiest "shareholders" in a capitalist economic system (can afford housekeepers and childcare), it isn't a particularly enticing deal for most Americans, Kristen Ghodsee, an ethnographer at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of "Everyday Utopia: In Praise of Radical Alternatives to the Traditional Family Home,” told me.  The nuclear family's guise of self-sufficiency only barely conceals its toxic codependence with the market economy.”  A guise, not an inherent foundation.   The article goes on to state that children are a “bad investment” and in an apparent contradiction, conservatives want to limit “reproductive freedoms” (read that the killing of babies), when one would assume capitalist conservatives would want more consumers.  The author conjectures “something better” as “polyamorous families, platonic coparenting, and "mommunes" becoming the next big thing.”  Fellow Americans?  These lunatics are doing their best to destroy the future for our children and grandchildren. I have absolutely NOTHING in common with these people.  As Sons of Confederate Veterans, we honor our ancestors, their sacrifices in building their families, their homes, their states, their culture. They fought the Second war for Independence with a tenacity to defend their homes and families and preserve their way of life, their Constitutional liberties and freedoms.  As our SCV initiation ceremony states, “They left us traditions of faith in God, honor, chivalry, and respect for womanhood; they left us a passionate belief in freedom for the individual. Our Confederate ancestors bequeathed to us a military tradition of valor, patriotism, devotion to duty, and a spirit of self-sacrifice. When our nation no longer admires and pays tribute to these traditions, we will no longer remain a free nation.”  It is Confederate History and Heritage month – make it a great one and a great year for the Cause.  Deo Vindice. 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Battle of Fort Harker Reenactment – April 6-7^th, Stevenson AL

 

Old Autauga Historical Society (OAHS) Quarterly Meeting and Picnic - Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 10am at CMP

 

Thunder on the Bay Reenactment – April 19-20^th, at Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, AL

 

AL Division Confederate Memorial Day – Saturday Apr 20^th, 9am Alabama State Capitol grounds

 

Living History and Skirmish – Saturday Apr 20^th, 9am at Confederate Memorial Park, Marbury AL

 

The Ladies' Memorial Association 158^th Confederate Memorial Program – 2pm on Friday April 26^th at Oakwood Cemetery

 

Dragoons’ Spring Picnic – Saturday April 27^th, starting at 10am at CMP, Marbury AL

 

Prattville Cityfest – Saturday May 11^th, 8am-3pm (Dragoons’ booth) Main St Prattville AL

 

AL Division Reunion – Friday May 31^st (Commander’s reception, Gift Horse) and Saturday June 1^st (Graham Creek, Foley)

 

Children of the Confederacy State Convention – Saturday June 8^th at CMP – contact Leigh Bearden 

 

SCV National Reunion – July 17-20^th at the Embassy Suites, North Charleston SC

SCV Camp 1524 Place Flags at Confederate Veterans Graves for Confederate History and Heritage Month

Members of the Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 placed Battle flags on the graves of Confederate veterans at historic Oak Hill cemetery in Prattville on Saturday morning March 30th in preparation for April being Confederate History and Heritage month.  Adjutant Sutherland procured new flags to put out at this cemetery as well as the two cemeteries at Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury.  There are over 80 Confederate veterans buried at Oak Hill and over 300 at Confederate Memorial Park.  Adjutant Sutherland also printed up maps which were highlighted to show the locations of the graves of these Confederate veterans. Compatriot Rob Schwartz led everyone in a prayer at the beginning of the work this bright and beautiful spring morning and also at the end reminding everyone of Easter and Christ's sacrifice he made for us with his triumphant resurrection celebrated the very next day. Commander Waldo and his son participated in the flag setting, finding graves, removing old flags and placing new Battle flags in the ground next to the headstones.  Most all of the flags placed a year ago by the camp in the cemetery remained which speaks to the honor the local community places on their Southern history and heritage.  Quartermaster Myrick, compatriots Larry Spears, Darrell Haywood and Louis Turner also helped with the task.  A tremendous way to bring in April, Confederate History and Heritage month. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 First Cemetery Maintenance of the Season

Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Dragoons met at Robinson Springs cemetery on Hwy 14 in Millbrook on Saturday March 23rd to finish mowing and trimming the lawn there for the first time this spring of 2024.   Brigade Commander Harold Grooms mowed the large spaces on Thursday prior so those who gathered on Saturday morning needed to just mow and trim more closely around the gravestones to finish the job.  Commander Waldo and his daughter, Quartermaster Myrick, and compatriots Philip Edwards, Rob Schwartz and Todd Rogers and his son all helped on Saturday making quick work of the effort.  Historic Robinson Springs is the final resting place for a number of Confederate veterans as well as veterans on other wars and founding families of the Robinson Springs area.  This grounds maintenance work is performed by Camp 1524 as part of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Guardian program. 

Prattville Dragoons at the Sons of Confederate Veterans Alabama Division Education Conference

A number of SCV Camp 1524 members, Sons of Confederate Veterans members from across the state and members of the Southern Cultural Center enjoyed the annual Alabama Division Education held at the SCC in Wetumpka.  Dragoons there included Tyrone Crowley, Bill Myrick, Rob Schwartz, Louis Turner and Paul Whaley.  Attendees enjoyed a number of great speakers including the Kennedy brothers, authors of "The South Was Right" as well as former Division Commander Karl Jones and many others.  The SCC was decorated beautifully with all historical Confederate flags and the SCC members did a wonderful job hosting the event.  A delicious lunch was provided for everyone midday.  With all the SCV and SCC attendees, the event made a small profit which was earmarked as a donation to the SCV National Museum.  At the end of the program, it was unanimously decided the Division will host another Education Conference next year.  A very informative and entertaining event.  

Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting for March 2024

Members of the Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 held their camp meeting on Thursday evening, March 14th at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville.  Rob Schwartz played his guitar to entertain everyone prior to the meeting start.  Chaplain Brantley then led everyone in an invocation followed by Color Sgt Dennis who led the pledges and salutes to the US, Alabama and Confederate flags.  Commander Waldo then recited the SCV Charge and welcomed everyone to the meeting.  A great event as a new member was sworn in, Josh Baker who has attended a number of meetings and had already participated in a parade with the camp as part of the Mechanized Cavalry riders at the Millbrook Mardi Gras parade.   The upcoming events were then highlighted including the Alabama Division SCV Education Conference, setting of flag on March 30th, Confederate Memorial Day program at the state capital and, the camp's spring picnic for which a covered dish signup was passed around.  This camp meeting evolved into a business meeting as the elections for the camp's officers were held including the positions of Commander, 1st Lt, 2nd Lt, Adjutant, Treasurer and Chaplain.  All men were elected unanimously and will be sworn in at the spring picnic in April at CMP.  The SCV Closing was then recited by Commander Waldo and a Benediction by the chaplain closed out the meeting.