Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Meeting for August 2021

Thursday evening, August 12th, the Prattville Dragoons gathered to meet at the usual meeting venue in the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville but found all roads leading to it were blocked and under construction. Thankfully due to the quick thinking of 1st Lt Harold Grooms, a local restaurant was contacted and they allowed the camp to meet in the back room of that restaurant.  The meeting opened in prayer then everyone did the pledge to the American flag and salute to the Alabama state flag, and to the Confederate Battle flag. 1st Lt Grooms then read the SCV charge to us and announced guests which included a friend of compatriots Mike Thomas and Rob Schwartz.  All total there were about 28 people in attendance which very much filled the impromptu meeting space. Harold reminded everyone of the Dixie butt fundraiser coming up September 11 encouraging everybody to buy one and sell one at least. A sign-up sheet was passed around for people to volunteer to work the Dragoons' table at the Autauga County fair October 12-16. Stamped postcards were also made available to anyone who wanted them to write to their state senator and representative for Heritage defense. Then an announcement was made of a $100 donation to the I-65 flag fund received from a nonmember.  The guest speaker was Dr. Grover Plunkett an assistant professor of history and political history at Faulkner university who has spoken to the camp previously and recently spoke at the Confederate Memorial Circle in Selma. He presented an enlightening lecture regarding the current woke culture that is permeating the country, how we can be aware of it and speak to people who might bring it up. He related an incident where a group approached him to write a letter proposing to the state of Alabama legislature various things, including a bill negating charges for anyone who sets fire to stores or cars or loots buildings in the course of a protest. Dr. Plunkett declined to author such a letter.  He also framed the origins of what a lot of what these groups are doing as part of the revolutionary agenda of Karl Marx and that they are trying to make us a socialist nation, turned from God.  The meeting was closed in prayer.  Everyone who attended enjoyed the fellowship and presentation as part of the monthly camp meeting series. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Historic Robinson Springs Cemetery Maintenance

Four members of Camp 1524 worked early Saturday morning August 14th at Robinson Springs Cemetery in Millbrook AL to cut grass and trim around the gravestones there.  Color Sgt John Dennis had his electric mower cutting around the graves while compatriots Rob Schwarz and Larry Spears used their weedeaters to trim closely around the headstones to prepare the cemetery for a final cut using a riding mower planned by 1st Lt Harold Grooms.  Commander Waldo also attended the workday using a sling blade to cut some of the Bahia grass and also pruned back some undergrowth encroaching on some shrubs there. The Dragoons care for this historic cemetery, the final resting place of a number of Confederate and U.S. veterans and founders of the Robinson Springs/Millbrook community, as part of the SCV Guardian Program.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for August 2021 - The Importance of Your SCV Membership to Advance the Charge

As the long hot summer wears on, we have come to our annual membership renewal period.  As I have said in the past, I believe the single most important thing each of us can do to further the Cause and carry forth the Charge is to maintain our membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  The SCV is recognized even by the critical Main Stream Media as the preeminent historical authority and representative on the period of the War for Southern Independence from a Confederate perspective.   As members of the SCV we are supporting the HQ initiatives including the world class new museum at Elm Springs and the heritage defense initiatives as we attempt to stand in the gap in defense of the Confederate monuments and vestiges of this historical period.   Similarly, in regards to the Alabama Division.  As a member of the Prattville Dragoons, Camp 1524 annually places flags on local cemeteries for both Confederate and US veterans.   Your annual dues also provide funds for donations to the Alabama state Archives for flag conservation and to state and national heritage projects like the HQ museum and Forrest reinternment.  We also have made numerous donations both as a collective group and as a camp to the local food bank as a community service.  The camp treasury also funds camp entries for local festivals and parades which serve as a community outreach for getting the SCV and Confederate Battle Flag out in front of the public and as membership recruitment initiatives.  There are also our annual billboard advertisements which are popular both locally and when posted on social media.  The camp also has awarded JROTC Hunley awards in local high schools which were funded by the camp.  The Camp 1524 Treasury also provides stipends for our monthly camp meeting speakers and our meeting venue rental which are great opportunities for fellowship and educational information from these experts in Southern history and heritage.  Of course, the Dragoons perform many more community service activities including cemetery care and maintenance and participation in historical association events.   

Many worthwhile initiatives to carry forth the Charge.   We also have announced our annual Dixie butt fundraiser, moving it from August to September to remove it from the same periodicity as the membership renewals.  Having it in September perhaps provides an opportunity to use the butts for tailgating or SEC football viewing.    While the recently completed Division Reunion which the Dragoons hosted represented an opportunity for the camp to realize some additional proceeds from the attendee registrations and event tickets for the Reunion activities, we decided to continue the annual Dixie butt fundraiser as many of our families and friends have come to expect this annual offering of delicious smoked butts provided by our camp.  So, I would encourage each member to “buy one and sell (at least) one” butt to raise money for our continued camp initiatives and activities.  In this period of political correctness and wokeness insanity, it is important to stay focused on the true history of the South and our ancestors’ defense of the originalist Constitutional republic, the true Cause for which they fought;  membership in the SCV and continued participation in the wide variety of initiatives in which our camp is engaged is important to rejuvenate our kindred spirit and not be distracted or dismayed by the relentless attacks on our Southern heritage.  I commend all for their continued SCV memberships and engagement in the camp activities and look forward to carrying forward the Charge,  to “(defend) the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, (and to perpetuate) those principles” of our forefathers.  

Prattville Dragoons Chaplain's Column for August 2021

 

Chaplain’s Column  - Help Is On The Way

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 (NIV).

 

“Help is on the way…”

TobyMac, contemporary Christian singer/ entertainer.

 

   Most of the folks reading this may not listen to contemporary Christian music. I am recent convert to it and the above song by singer TobyMac is called “Help is on the way.” It has become my “go-to” song when all feels lost. He sings about the loss of his son and that in those dark times God has never failed him. He finishes the song by reminding us that God will never abandon us and that, indeed, help is on the way.

   I heard this song on the way to work the other morning. Once I got there I was given a Herculean task to complete. I honestly did not know how I was going to complete it. Then, my co-workers, most of whom are recent additions to the staff, jumped in without me asking. Soon, the task was completed. I thought of this afterwards and was embarrassed that I had doubted that God would send help.

   How many times do we doubt God and His ability to help? I heard John Ed Mathison preach at Frazer Church this weekend. He reminded us that every time you tell God how big your problem is, to instead remind your problem(s) how big your God is. We are the only ones who limit God’s capacity to help us in any given situation.

   We read in Hebrews that God will always come to us when we help others and when we need help. Remember, sometimes God sends us help and sometimes He sends us as the help.

   And how many times have we felt we are “too far gone” to ask for help? Only we are limited in that capacity. The Bible reminds us that we must humble ourselves and ask God for help. But, we must ask! And we must wait for the answer patiently.

   As the above song says, “it may be days, it may years, it may be a lifetime of fallen tears.” But help will come.

   Fast, Pray, and let God take over and see  those miracles unfold.

   Help is on the way!

 

May God continue to watch over you and your families and protect you all.

And may God save the South!

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Prattville Dragoons August Camp Meeting – Thursday August 12th, Masonic Lodge, Prattville AL

Dixie Butt Distribution – Saturday September 11th, 8am-10am at Herrod’s Chevron in Prattville (buy one, sell one butt)

Autauga County Fair – Tuesday Oct 5^th – Saturday Oct 9^th at the Autauga County Fairgrounds, Prattville (booth signup)

Dragoons Attend Forrest Bicentennial Celebration at Fort Dixie

    Saturday July 31st marked the 22nd annual celebration of the birthday of General Nathan Bedford Forrest which have taken place since 1999 at Fort Dixie, the home of Butch and Pat Godwin near Sardis, Alabama.   Three Dragoons—Lt Cdr Harold Grooms, Tyrone Crowley, and Dave Thompson--were in attendance and enjoyed a fine day at Fort Dixie along with about 300-400 other admirers of General Forrest, perhaps the most successful and feared Cavalry officer of the War for Southern Independence.  Union General Sherman said of Forrest during the War, "That devil Forrest...must be hunted down and killed if it costs ten thousand lives and bankrupts the Federal treasury".   And yet Forrest survived the War while being wounded four times and having twenty-nine horses shot from beneath him.  After the War, Sherman was quoted as saying,  "After all, I think Forrest was the most remarkable man our Civil War (sic) produced on either side".  

    This birthday celebration was also special because General Forrest would have been 200 years old this year.  Past National SCV Chuck McMichael gave a stimulating and thought-provoking talk on just what Confederate soldiers endured when they “saw the elephant”, that is, engaged in actual combat.   He ended with a statement that Forrest will always be revered by liberty-loving people (as well as respected by military historians).

    In addition to the speaker, there was fine music provided by the Dixie Jubilee family band, a silent auction, a live auction, a delicious fried catfish supper with sides prepared by the ladies, and finally, even a fireworks show to end the day.  A grand time was had by all present, and the feeling and spirit of community were everywhere.