The Dragoons of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 "laissez les bon temps" at the Revelers Millbrook Mardi Gras parade and festival on Saturday February 19th. Camp Commander Stuart Waldo, 1st Lt Harold Grooms, 2nd Lt Karl Wade, Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland and compatriot Rob Schwartz helped set up the canopy and tables for the booth at the festival that morning at the Village Green Park greeting early passers-by on this chilly winter morning. Chaplain Brantley joined early that morning also and helped man the booth with Karl and Wayne thru the parade conclusion. They were joined that afternoon after the parade by more members of the camp. 2nd Lt Wade reported the festival booth was a great success with many historic Confederate flags, car tags and mugs sold and contacts made with a number of prospective new camp members. He stated most everyone who came by the Dragoons booth displayed a very positive supportive attitude toward the Cause and even the couple not outwardly supportive were engaged and their questions answered for their information and knowledge so that hopefully they left with a more positive image of who the Dragoons and the SCV are.
A little before noon everyone started lining up at the Millcreek Park about a mile down Main Street from the Village Green. The Dragoons had a great entry including two trucks, one carrying the camp's Mardi Gras banner and another carrying a display of flags including the Confederate Battle flag, the Gadsden banner and First National stars and bars. Commander Waldo's purple Charger was adorned with Mardi Gras decorations as well as a pair of window sized Confederate Battle flags. Six members of the Alabama Division Mechanized Cavalry also participated with the camp as part of the entry which always makes for an awesome sound out of their Harleys making their way down the parade route. Hundreds of mini-Battle flags, SCV coins and of course loads of candy and moon pies were handed to spectators all down Main Street to the review stand at the Village Green where the announcer recognized the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons. The Millbrook Mardi Gras parade is the largest such parade north of Mobile according to the Reveler organizers. Thousands line Main Street and thousands more enjoy the crafts and food at the festival throughout the day. This is a terrific event to celebrate Mardi Gras, have fun and get the Confederate Battle Flag colors out in front of our friends and neighbors.
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