Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for January 2022 - A New Year of Possibilities for Positive Action for the Cause

Happy New Year to all the members and friends of the Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524!  I hope the new year brings us less misery as a country than what we endured in 2021.  But last year was a terrific year for the Dragoons as we hosted our first Alabama Division Reunion which was an outstanding success.  We also again participated in a number of community events including parades, fairs and festivals and supported worthy causes with food pantry donations and the Salvation Army red kettle Christmas holiday bell ringing.  And of course, the continued maintenance of a number of historic cemeteries in our communities.  Also our regular monthly meetings resumed as well as our seasonal fellowship opportunities like the Fall Muster and Christmas Social.  You all should be commended for your involvement and continued advancement of the Cause in carrying forth the Charge.   Nevertheless, 2nd Lt Wade sent an email out recently bemoaning the recent removal of the General Lee statue in Richmond and the news it was subsequently given to a Black History group.   I actually commented on this news on our Twitter feed that it was interesting that time capsules were apparently found in the base of the monument as if those who placed the monument figured at some point they would be found (which was only possible if the monument was removed).   This of course has been foretold in such works as Orwell’s “1984” warning of a Marxist totalitarian dystopian society, “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed.”  We observed similar purges in 20th century historical events in the USSR, China and the Mideast.   But, it has happened in the United States of America. 

 

1st Lt Grooms questioned why we needed to financially support the legal fight to preserve the Eternal Vigil Confederate monument in Florence AL.  Because the PC local officials will violate the toothless monument preservation law and absorb the inconsequential fine to further the purge.  And whatsoever action taken from a state (AG) level will be too little and too late.  It seems to be a never-ending struggle but if you consider our ancestors who fought a grueling four year life and death struggle to protect their homes and preserve the originalist constitutional liberties.  I provided to the officers of the camp news of related developments including the Virginia Flaggers erecting more mega-flags across the state and the Gordonsville (VA) SCV camp raising funds to erect a new replica statue of Lee in a prominent location in the commonwealth.   I encouraged our Brigade Commander to provide input and of course Monuments Across Dixie is involved with this effort.  Outstanding.  He conveyed the imperative that we must proactively look for ways to preserve the long-term viability of the SCV to carry forth the Charge in the face of these continued attacks and the changing societal landscape in our country.   Our social media presence is important but it should not be the end goal.  We need to take action.  We need to preserve but also erect new monuments.  He spoke of a new streaming media concept which could provide news and information and resources to subscribers like a channel on your television.   Amazing opportunity.  He implored us to consider ways to fund our SCV efforts apart from the continued burden on the membership such as marketing a sustainable product to the public to produce an income stream.  Bigger ideas.  He concluded with some brilliant words to consider, “(We need to take bold) steps toward cultural and financial independence and stop our interdependence on all levels (with) our amoral governments and society.  In 2022, let us look to future with the same passion we have to the past and build a legacy for future generations.”