Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Conduct Cemetery Caretaking Workdays

Six Dragoons and one potential cadet member answered the call to manicure Robinson Springs cemetery on Thursday March 22^nd. Bear Butler brought his stepson, Seth, who helped clean up the litter in the area and assisted the Dragoons as needed. The morning was sunny and a bit cool but the workers finished in about 1 hour as they diligently performed the necessary tasks to have the cemetery looking good for the Easter season.  The hard-working compatriots included Bear and Seth, Bill Myrick, Bill Gill, Tom and Tyrone Crowley and Don Owens.  Carl French of the Cradle of the Confederacy camp had cut the cemetery a few days prior with his mower so the work was mainly weed eating, using a walk behind mower and blower and picking up litter. The Confederates and other veterans buried here, as well as the Autauga/Elmore county early settlers, have a very respectable final resting place thanks to the efforts of our camp.  On Saturday March 31^st the Dragoons prepared for Confederate History and Heritage Month by cleaning Indian Hills including mowing, raking and weeding. The crew also finished cutting and splitting the dead pine Brigade Commander Butch Godwin cut down some time back. Some dead wood was burned watched carefully by Bear, a former firefighter who recommended not trying to burn an excessive amount for fear of the fire getting loose. There remains a huge stack of pine stacked and waiting to be torched. The Dragoons also replaced memorial Battle Flags on the graves of the Confederate veterans buried there, including Dragoon Lt. A. Y. Smith. Participants included Tom Crowley, Rob Heyward, Phillip Edwards, Wayne Sutherland, Beir Butler, Dale Boyles, Bill Myrick, Don Owens and Harold Grooms.