The Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 held their monthly camp meeting on Thursday evening May 12th at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville. It was a good crowd of 27 folks enjoying the fellowship and the program. In the absence of Commander Waldo, newly installed 1st Lt Rob Schwartz led the meeting and did an outstanding job including playing music on his guitar in the hour leading up to the program. Rob called on Chaplain Brantley for prayers to open and close the meeting and Color Sgt Dennis led everyone in the pledges and salutes to the flags. Compatriot Tyrone Crowley gave a summary of last month's Confederate Memorial Day services he attended with his wife including that in Montgomery and in Selma. Harold Grooms and John Dennis gave updates on the status of the cemetery grounds maintenance which the camp undertakes. A special occasion was the swearing in of compatriot Thomas Griffith who was very happy being presented with his certificate having been framed by his wife for the ceremony and display. Thomas had his sister and brother-in-law in attendance.
Calvin Chapelle, Site Director of Confederate Memorial Park of the Alabama Historical Commission, was the guest presenter and gave a slideshow presentation concerning the rotating exhibits at the museum and a new climate controlled display case they are getting. He was very proud to have an engraved wallet from a Prattville Dragoon that fought in the war of Northern aggression and it will be put on display soon. He related that having school children come to CMP is the best part of his job, educating them about the true history of Alabama and the Confederacy. He spoke of the recent reenactment events and live history presentations and noted there will be more of them in the future. Calvin complimented the Dragoons for setting all the flags on the graves at the cemeteries at CMP for April, Confederate History and Heritage month. They are also rebuilding the pavilion at the park that was destroyed a few years ago. Calvin provided the facts on the proposed legislation concerning state park funding and did not endorse either position for voting but did confirm that Confederate Memorial Park has its own stream of income for park maintenance. Alabama House Representative Will Dismukes popped in soon after the meeting started and provided an update on the status of current bills affecting heritage defense in the state.
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