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.