We enjoyed a tremendously successful Alabama Division Reunion which Camp 1524 hosted the first of June. Compatriots from across the state joined us for the events surrounding the Reunion including a registration and Division EC meeting at the Marriott Courtyard, a Commander’s reception at Buena Vista and a business session with breakfast and BBQ lunch as well as an awards banquet with Uncle Mick’s cajun at the Doster Center. Many Dragoons contributed many hours of their time planning and helping at these functions and feedback from attendees was very positive. One item of interest which was discussed at the Reunion was the continuing efforts of the progressive revisionists to cancel the recognition of our state’s history in myriad ways from attacking monuments to removing holidays recognizing great Confederate Americans to removing the honorable historic Battle flag from our state’s coat of arms.
Our Representative Will Dismukes mentioned previously his opposition to the revision of the state’s coat of arms as doing so would make for fiscal irresponsibility. The coat of arms is used on law enforcement vehicles and uniforms and government officials and department seals, buildings , letterhead etc. “The bill to legalize a state coat of arms was introduced in the Alabama Legislature of 1939 by James Simpson, Jefferson County, and was passed without a dissenting vote by both houses. The coat of arms consists of a shield on which appears the emblems of the five governments that have held sovereignty over Alabama: Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. (The design includes the flag of the United Kingdom rather than that of Great Britain.) This shield is supported on either side by bald eagles, symbolic of courage. The crest is a model of the ship, the Baldine, that Iberville and Bienville sailed from France to settle a colony near present day Mobile (1699). The motto beneath the shield is "Audemus jura nostra defendere." Beneath the motto is the state name. The original design of the Alabama coat of arms was made in 1923 by B. J. Tieman, New York, an authority on heraldry, at the request of Marie Bankhead Owen, Director of the Department of Archives and History. A few years later Naomi Rabb Winston, Washington, DC, painted the completed design in oil. Mrs. Owen selected the motto which was put into Latin by Professor W.B. Saffold, of the University of Alabama.” (https://archives.alabama.gov/emblems/st_coa.html)
It was reinforced that it is incumbent on the Sons of Confederate Veterans membership to lead the effort to resist the canceling of our state’s historical record particularly in regards to our proud Confederate history where our ancestors fought for their independence, in defense of their homes and the state of Alabama, and for the ideals of our founder’s constitutional republic, for state’s rights limiting the authoritarian centralized federal government. It was emphasized that we should all contact our state Representatives and Senators regularly by phone, mail and email when in session and outside of those timeframes. Clyde Chambliss is likely your state Senator for most of the Dragoon membership but, Will Dismukes, Mike Holmes or Reed Ingraham or someone else may be your state Representative depending on your home address. Check this website to find yours - https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/elected-official-map. Here is a list of all the Alabama state house representatives, click on their photo to get their contact information including address, phone and email - http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/ISD/House/ALRepresentatives.aspx . I am asking our Communications Officer to procure stamped addressed postcards that each member may use to contact these representatives to further strengthen and give another voice to our heritage defense. As the SCV Charge implores us, it is our duty to vindicate and guard the history and the Cause for which our Confederate ancestors fought and died.
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