After months of planning in preparation, the Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 welcomed attendees from across the state to the 2021 Alabama Division Reunion on Saturday June 5th. On Friday afternoon, Adjutant Sutherland, 2nd Lt Karl Wade, and compatriot Larry Spears set up a registration table in the lobby of the host hotel to welcome those who had pre-registered for the event. Division officers also held a meeting in the conference room at the hotel Friday afternoon.
Friday evening everyone moved over to the historic Buena Vista antebellum mansion to enjoy a Commander's Reception. Platters of chicken tenders, shrimp, finger sandwiches, vegetables, fruit and antipasti were enjoyed with soft drinks, mixed drinks and beer. Commander Waldo, Quartermaster Myrick and compatriot Tyrone Crowley acted as bartenders while the Adjutant and Larry Spears again managed registrations for people who arrived in town and proceeded directly to the Reception venue. Everyone enjoyed music from the pianist who played the grand piano in the parlor. Tables were set up in the parlor as well as on the front porch. Wonderful ambience for the Reception and the first event of the convention.
Saturday morning, Dragoons arrived early to the Doster Center in downtown Prattville to setup the registration tables again at the entrance, setup the vendor area in the Dining Room area of the Doster Center, place the US and Confederate flags on the stage and setup a welcoming breakfast of doughnuts brought by Color Sgt Dennis and Conecuh biscuits prepared by Comms Ofc Butler and coffee prepared by Tyrone and Carol Crowley. The Reunion welcome portion commenced with the posting of colors and Dragoons Butler, Dennis and Rob Schwartz participated in reenactment period uniforms. Dragoons Chaplain Brantley then offered an Invocation as he stood in throughout the day for the Division Chaplain. 1st Lt Harold Grooms acted as emcee throughout the day and introduced those who welcomed the attendees including Camp 1524 Commander Waldo, Chaplain Lt. Michael Adkins, and representatives from the state United Daughters of the Confederacy, Order of Confederate Rose, and the Children of the Confederacy.
Following a few announcements by 1st Lt Grooms, Alabama Division Commander McMurry opened the 2021 Alabama Division Reunion by gavel. It was a huge crowd with all seats taken as a couple dozen additional attendees arrived just that morning who had not preregistered just to attend the business session. The ladies departed for a tour of the downtown Prattville area including historic buildings and the Prattaugan Museum. The business session began with an Adjutant and Treasurer's report which preceeded votes on a few constitutional amendments and then lunch was served. Members of the OCR acted as hostesses and served the boxed BBQ plate lunches, sweet tea and chocolate chip cookies which everyone enjoyed. News of recent events and plans for the Division were then discussed with Commander McMurry leading. After the business session, a Memorial Service was led by Chaplain Brantley who read the names of those on the Final Roll Call, compatriots who had passed away over the last year.
Those activities concluded the business session of the Alabama Division Reunion. Tablecloths and centerpieces were placed on the tables in the Doster Center auditorium in preparation for the Awards Banquet which was held there Saturday evening. Mutt Cooper provided entertainment as he played his guitar and sang for a period before and during the supper. A cajun buffet banquet was enjoyed by all those who attended the Awards banquet where Division awards were presented and the recipient of the annual Wheeler scholarship received his award check. There was so much food that even after local compatriots took home leftovers, a large amount was taken to a Prattville fire department station by 1st Lt Grooms.
It was a great 2021 Reunion which went off flawlessly thanks to the planning and efforts of all the Dragoons of Camp 1524. Feedback was unanimously positive from officers and compatriots from throughout the Division.
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