Prattville Dragoons at the Ladies' Memorial Association Confederate Memorial Day Event

Three members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 attended the 157th annual Ladies' Memorial Association Confederate Memorial Day event at the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery AL on Wednesday afternoon, April 26th, Confederate Memorial Day.  Dragoons' Commander Waldo, Chaplain Brantley and compatriot Tyrone Crowley with his wife Carol were in attendance along with another couple/few dozen people.  Members of the SCV acted as a color guard to post the colors opening the program.  Salutes to the Christian Flag, Alabama state Flag and Confederate First National Flags and pledge to the US Flag were recited.  With keyboard accompaniment the attendees sang "How Firm a Foundation" (Gen. Robert E. Lee's favorite hymn), the "National Anthem", and "Dixieland".  Greetings were then extended by the President of the Ladies' Memorial Association Leslie Kirk, former Alabama Secretary of State the Honorable John Merrill, Montgomery City Councilman Charles Jinright and, Dr. Robert Wieland, curator of the First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery.  Leslie provided a history of the Ladies' Memorial Association which was formed to care for the gravesites of the Confederate veterans in Oakwood Cemetery and who established Decoration Day which became Memorial Day to honor the fallen veterans.  Colonel John Eidsmoe provided the keynote address, a heartfelt explanation of the culture and allegiances Southerners have for their Southern homeland while proudly serving their country.  After the colors were retired, a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace" led a processional to the Confederate Memorial where a magnolia wreath was placed.  The reenactment color guard fired off two volleys and a bugler then played "Taps".  It was a moving tribute to the veterans on this Confederate Memorial Day and another edition of an incredible historic event.  

Prattville Dragoons at the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Confederate Memorial Day Observance

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Alabama Division, guests and compatriots honored Confederate Memorial Day on the steps of Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Saturday morning April 22nd. It was a beautiful crisp spring day and attendance was good with over 100 enjoying a fantastic program with great speakers, musket firings and cannon firings. A half dozen members of SCV Camp 1524 attended including Commander Waldo, Quartermaster Myrick, and compatriots Rob Schwartz, Louis Turner, Dave Thompson, and Tyrone Crowley with his wife Carol. There was a half scale replica of the CSS Hunley on display, the first combat submarine which was invented by a Confederate which sank the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor in February 1864. The program started with the posting of the colors complete with a reenactment color guard and the Alabama Division Chaplain then said an Invocation. Representatives from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Order of Confederate Rose, Military Order of the Stars and Bars, the Army of Tennessee, and the SCV Mechanized Cavalry brought greetings before SCV Chaplain-in-Chief provided a history of the contributions of Southerners in the founding of America. The reenactors fired off their muskets and cannon down Dexter Avenue to put an exclamation on the program. This was a great event to help us remember the true history of our War for Southern Independence and all the sacrifices our Confederate ancestors made.

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Maintenance of Robinson Springs Cemetery

Members of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 performed grounds maintenance at the historic Robinson Springs cemetery in Millbrook AL this week.  Brigade Commander Grooms used his riding mower to cut the large areas of the lawn earlier in the week and on Wednesday morning, Quartermaster Myrick and compatriot Rob Schwartz finished the grounds maintenance for this Confederate History and Heritage Month using push mowers, weed trimmers and leaf blowers.  This work was finished just in time for Confederate Memorial Day.  Robinson Springs cemetery is the final resting place of a number of Confederate veterans and US veterans of other wars as well as area founders.  The Dragoons maintain this cemetery as part of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Guardian program.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Spring Picnic

To celebrate Confederate History and Heritage month, the Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 held their annual picnic at Confederate Memorial Park on Saturday April 15th.  The large picnic pavilion was utilized and it provided just enough seating for the 40+ people who attended and enjoyed a beautiful spring day at the historic site.  There were a half dozen potential new members there who were invited by officers and members of the camp as well as a number of escorted ladies.  Camp Commander Waldo opened the picnic with a short program welcoming everyone in attendance and making a few announcements about upcoming events including the AL Division and UDC Confederate Memorial Day programs set for next weekend.  The officers newly elected to serve were then installed by Brigade Commander Grooms in a swearing-in ceremony.  After this, Commander Grooms helped conduct a flag retirement ceremony where dozens of old US and Confederate flags were burned.  All the men of the camp there stood in formation as the flags were brought forward and Commander Waldo's son played a drum roll followed by his daughter playing Taps as the flags were placed on the fire.  It was a poignant tribute.  The park was the site of the Alabama Confederate veteran's retirement home and hundreds of Confederate veterans are interred there; the Dragoons had placed Confederate Battle flags at the cemeteries at the last of March for Confederate History and Heritage month and those were still flying at each of the hundreds of graves there in the park.  After this ceremony, Rob Schwartz played his guitar and sang a number of songs including "Dixie" which brought everyone to their feet and singing with exuberance.  Chaplain Brantley then  offered a prayer remembering those who were absent and who recently passed away and also blessings for the food.  The ladies in attendance and guests went thru first but there was plenty of delicious food for everyone.  The camp provided three smoked butts which Quartermaster Myrick pulled and sauced.  Compatriot Dave Thompson also brought smoked chopped pork with sides.  Brigade Commander Grooms brought a crockpot full of camp stew.  2nd Lt Karl Wade brought four pounds of Conecuh sausage.  Compatriot Larry Miller brought some KFC fried chicken.  Then everyone else brought sides and desserts including Bill Myrick's world famous baked beans and his wife's hummingbird cake, mac n cheese, cole slaw, potato salad, corn salad, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, more sides,  more cakes and banana pudding and beverages.  It was all delicious and everyone undoubtedly ate too much.  Afterward, some went across the street to the park museum to tour that wonderful state-of-the-art museum which tells the story of the veterans' home there and includes a number of flags and relics from the War for Southern Independence.  Others walked the grounds including the barracks and trails and the cemeteries.  Others chatted and enjoyed the fellowship with compatriots.  The bright skies and slight breeze thru the shade of the trees made it a spectacular enjoyable day and event.  

Prattville Dragoons' SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for April 2023 - He Is Risen!

 “He is risen! He is not here; for He is risen!”

Matthew 28:6.

 

By the time you read this, Easter will have passed, but let us remember the reason we celebrate Easter. It’s the new life we are afforded by the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That new life may be in a way we are unprepared for, but blessed, nonetheless.

In his book, “Prayer,” Timothy Keller reminds us of that in a story about King David. When we look at 2 Samuel 7, starting in verses 11-13, David is at the height of his power as King. He is a faithful servant and wants to build God a temple to honor Him. But God flips the script. Through the prophet Nathan God tells David, “No, I will build you a house.” David wants to build God a place that would display God’s glory. God, in effect, had a counterproposal. God would display His glory in David’s royal blood line. A line that God promised would last forever.

How could David’s bloodline last forever? David could have argued with God or questioned the Great I Am. Instead, David went in prayer to God and thanked him for this great honor. What lesson could we gleam from this? When we “tell” God what we’re going to do and He corrects or changes our path, we can not be obstinate and instead thank for “guarding our paths.”

David trusted God. We have the benefit of knowing the outcome of this promise. In Hebrews 7:16 we are reminded that one of David’s descendants will take up a kingdom and never relinquish it, because of the divine power of his indestructible life. Jesus Christ, the ultimate Son of David, will do this.

Keller reminds us later that David found the heart to pray to God in gratitude when he received God’s word of promise. Christians, however, have an infinitely greater Word of promise. God will not merely build us a house; He will make us his house.

Remember this lesson in this season of new life and new beginnings. Have a open heart, fill it with gratitude and see where the Lord sends you down His path.

If this Easter Season finds you away from God. Take this opportunity to welcome Christ in to your heart. He went to the Cross and died and was resurrected, not because he was duty- bound to do so, it was because he loves you. He wants a relationship with you.

As this is April, and Confederate History Month, let us also remember the blessing of our descendants as well.

I hope everyone has a Blessed Easter Season.

Prattville Dragoons' Commander's Column for April 2023 - A Time and Place of Struggle

My pastor is great at making his sermons relatable to modern day life.  I also often find them relatable to service with the Sons of Confederate Veterans and heritage defense.  A couple weeks ago his sermon was on Jesus’ struggle and severe anguish as he prayed in anticipation of his impending suffering on the cross.  With the constant attacks on our heritage, historical revisionism besmirching our honorable ancestors and their struggle in the War for Southern Independence, and the removal of significant monuments which are works of art and honor the sacrifices and heroic struggle of the Confederate soldiers, it is a struggle to overcome the anguish imparted by these constant slanders and setbacks. 

The sermon presented six things people might do when attempting to cope with overwhelming struggles.  Some avoid it.  We wish we could avoid the attacks on our heritage and the vestiges of our Confederate history but the politically correct progressives are incessant in their attacks.  The latest is a government sanctioned renaming commission which is spending millions of your tax dollars to change the names of military installations which have stood for decades in honor of the gallantry and leadership exhibited by American Confederates.  The sermon presented the second strategy to cope, wait for it.  But we have been waiting for years now.  Ever since the misplaced reaction to the Dillon Roof shootings, the PC crowd which wishes to remove all connection with the constitutional ideals of our nation’s founding sought the removal of the Battle Flags from atop the South Carolina House and the grounds of the Alabama state capital and they have stoked their misplaced vengeance for almost a decade, ever since the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States.  

We can attempt to delay the anguish.  Our legal fights in courtrooms in Virginia and Alabama and across the southeast are testament to the strategy to prevent the removal of our monuments thru legal channels and means including stays against what seems to be the inevitable removal of all symbols to our ancestors’ valiant resistance to tyranny.   The pastoral sermon offered passing the struggle on to others.  But who will fight for our Southern heritage, true history and our ancestors’ honorable memory if not for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the very descendants of these brave and noble folk. 

Can we escape it?  We should not even dare.  It is our duty per the Charge to vindicate the Cause for which our Confederate ancestors fought and to defend their good name, to guard and teach true history, emulate their virtues and perpetuate the principles of self-governance and constitutional God-given rights. Robert E. Lee said, “You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less.”   Therefore, we must accept it.  Christ said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)   If it isn’t difficult, you are not following him and his will for your life.  God will challenge you.  The defense of Southern heritage is a challenge.  It has proven to not be an easy task or easily accomplished.  It will be a lifelong struggle.  It is a worthwhile defense, a meaningful struggle.  And, Deo Vindice!

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Battle of Fort Harker Reenactment – April 22-23, Stevenson AL

 

Thunder on the Bay Reenactment – April 22-23, at Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island AL

 

Abbeville Institute 20^th Anniversary – Thursday-Saturday April 13-15^th, Callaway Gardens GA

 

Dragoons Spring Picnic – April 15^th 10am til, Confederate Memorial Park, Marbury AL

 

Confederate Memorial Day Program  - April 27^th, 5:30pm, Confederate Memorial Circle at Old Live Oak Cemetery, Selma

 

Prattville Cityfest – the Dragoons booth on Main Street, Saturday May 13^th , Prattville AL

 

Ole Bedford’s 24^th Annual Birthday Celebration - July 29^th, 3pm with catfish supper at 6pm at Fort Dixie, Selma AL

Confederate Battle Flags Placed at Area Cemeteries by Prattville Dragoons Brigade Commander for Confederate History and Heritage Month

Brigade Commander Grooms placed Confederate Battle Flags at a number of Confederate veterans graves in cemeteries across Prattville and Autaugaville AL on Thursday March 23rd.  These flags were put out to enhance the final resting places of these Confederate veterans and honor their service in the War for Southern Independence in time for April as part of Alabama's Confederate History and Heritage month.  Harold also helped with recordings used for radio advertisements sponsored by the Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 which will air throughout the month of April on Dixie 100.1 and 98.5 in Prattville and Selma as part of Alabama's Confederate History and Heritage month.