Compatriots,
The early deadline for registration for the Hot Springs Reunion is June 1. Until this date the registration cost is $70.00.
From June 2 - July 15 the registration cost is $80.00 and thereafter is it $85.00.
The link below will take you to the reunion website where registration forms and information about the reunion can be found.
http://www.scv2009reunion.com/
I look forward to seeing you in Hot Springs July 23-25.
Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff
Saturday, May 9, 2009
SCV Victory In Auburn!
8 May 2009
Compatriots, I am sure that by now you have all heard of the Heritage Violation that happened on the 23rd of April at Pine Hill Cemetery located inAuburn, Alabama. On this day, Auburn City Councilman Arthur Dowdell entered the cemetery and stole four Confederate “Memorial” flags(reportedly) from the graves of Confederate Veterans. These flags had been placed by the Semmes Chapter of the UDC in Auburn in preparation for their upcoming Memorial service the following Sunday. This act oflawlessness was witnessed by a local historian and UDC member Mrs.Mary Norman. There were many reports of this incident in the local news and across the AP.
The City Council in Auburn held their regular meeting on Tuesday the5th of May at 7pm. The Army of Tennessee and Alabama Division were very well represented at this council meeting. Present were myself, AoT Commander Kelly Barrow, AoT Councilman and Division 1st Lt.Commander Tom Strain, SEC Brigade Commander Larry Warren, SWC BrigadeCommander Joe Clark, NWC Brigade Commander Allan Koester, PastDivision Commanders Wilson and Simmons, Tallassee Camp CommanderRandall Hughey, Auburn Camp Commander Jerry Purcel, Florida Division1st Lt Commander Bob Hurst and forty plus fellow SCV members.
The evening began with the opening of the meeting room, where we occupied the front row and most of the center section of the seating. The Mayor then made a statement. In it he said: “Let me be clear, the issue here is not about race, the symbolism of the flag, or the City’s cemetery policies; it is about the removal of private property from a private grave.” He further stated “I want to assure the Daughter’s that I will not support any Council action limiting anyone’s right to honor their loved ones by placing flags on a grave.” They then altered the agenda to allow them to bring forward a resolution concerning Dowdell’s actions.
Councilman Bob Norman issued the following statement and resolution: “Statement: By his own admission, Councilman Arthur Dowdell enteredPine Hill Cemetery on April 23rd and removed confederate flags from private burial plots. He was quoted as saying “This will never happen again as long as I’m on the city council.” This is a passionate issue. There is no doubt that Mr. Dowdell is offended by the battle flag of the confederacy, and theappropriateness of its use is open to debate. The way councilman Dowdell chose to enter the debate is inappropriate and beneath the office of city councilman. His actions were inexcusable and have done nothing to help people on either side of this issue find common ground. They have stirred up old hatreds and created embarrassmentand and controversy for the city he represents. The bottom line is that those graves are private property, the placing of flags as memorials are expressions of free speech and Mr.Dowdell had no right to remove them.
The fact that Mr. Dowdell invoked his position as a city councilman demands that the city council speak to the issue. Therefore the following is offered as a resolution by the Auburn city council:
Whereas, by his own admission, Councilman Arthur Dowdell entered PineHill Cemetery on April 23rd and removed confederate flags from private burial plots; and
Whereas, Councilman Dowdell invoked his position as a city councilman by saying “This will never happen again as long as I’m on the city council;” and
Whereas, the foregoing action was inappropriate and beneath theoffice of a city councilman;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Auburn City Council condemns the actions taken by the Councilman Dowdell, and urges him to make a public apology to the citizens of Auburn, and to pledge tha thenceforth he will respect the private property and free speech rights of all citizens.”
This Resolution passed with one vote against by Dowdell. The Council then opened the floor for comment from Auburn citizens. A slight majority of these were those brought in by Dowdell, and they were in favor of him. There were also a number of citizens who took strong exception to his actions. The floor was then opened to speakers from outside Auburn. Randall Hughey was the firston our desired lineup, and he did an excellent job. Auburn Camp Commander Jerry Purcel (who lives outside the city limits) was next and did a fine job as well. The selection was not by sign up, but by recognition from the Mayor. Good points were made by a number of speakers and those opposed to Dowdell were the vast majority of those given.
When it became evident that almost everyone present would be comingup to the microphone, it was decided that the public comments would be saved until the end of the meeting. The regular business of the Council was covered in a very few minutes and we returned to public comment. Just over half of the comments were given in this second session. To the council’s credit they patiently listened to the comments being made and gave everyone a chance to speak. After the public comments session, Dowdell gave his statement in which he publicly apologized to the UDC and the SCV. He excused his actions due to “ignorancy” on his part, and noted that he contactedthe City Manager and Mayor about the flags and that they did not knowanything about them. He said the Mayor did know there was a program planned for Sunday.
Dowdell’s claims of ignorance appeared to be very well founded, though I will certainly not attest to his sense of honesty. The issue here though is that ignorance of the law is not an excuse for lawless behavior. As a closing comment, Councilman Robin Kelley was visibly shaken when he stated that Dowdell “Broke the law, and desecrated graves, end of discussion” in the removal of the flags. He further chastised Dowdell for not calling him, since it was in his ward. He explained that helived near the cemetery and knew exactly what the flags were for. Kelley stated that Dowdell would be highly unappreciative of his taking action in Dowdell’s ward without first informing Dowdell.
Kelley then called for the meeting to adjourn.
In the end what was achieved:
1. A statement by the Mayor that Dowdell removed private property from private grave plots.
2. A statement by the Mayor that he “will not support any Councilaction limiting anyone’s right to honor their loved ones by placingflags on a grave.”
3. A statement by Councilman Bob Norman and the city council thatDowdell removed (stole) private property and did so as a citycouncilman.
4. A Resolution that the City Council condemned the actions taken byDowdell and urged him to make an apology.
5. An apology from Dowdell to the UDC and the SCV.
6. A statement from Councilman Kelly that Dowdell “Broke the law, and desecrated graves, end of discussion”.
At this point Dowdell appears as he is, an ignorant self righteousand self serving thug who took the law into his own hands, and has been thoroughly chastised by us and the City Council.
Compatriots, there is no way for the Alabama Division, Sons ofConfederate Veterans to pursue a criminal suit against Councilman Dowdell because we do not have a witness willing to step forward to sign the arrest warrant and that no one has produced a list of the graves that were vandalized. We are unable to proceed any further inthis case.
It is also very clear that if we push this issue, we will possibly turn Councilman Dowdell into a martyr, and gentlemen this is exactly what he wants and needs at this point. In closing, this is clearly a victory for the Army of Tennessee and Alabama Division. We went to Auburn, showed up in numbers, represented the Division and SCV in a very honorable fashion, and left knowing that the City Council and Mayor’s office are clearly upsetwith Councilman Dowdell’s actions.
I would like to personally thankall of those involved who assisted the Alabama Division by following the Charge as set forth by General S.D. Lee to the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 1906.
Deo Vindice,
Robert C. Reames
Alabama Division Commander
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Compatriots, I am sure that by now you have all heard of the Heritage Violation that happened on the 23rd of April at Pine Hill Cemetery located inAuburn, Alabama. On this day, Auburn City Councilman Arthur Dowdell entered the cemetery and stole four Confederate “Memorial” flags(reportedly) from the graves of Confederate Veterans. These flags had been placed by the Semmes Chapter of the UDC in Auburn in preparation for their upcoming Memorial service the following Sunday. This act oflawlessness was witnessed by a local historian and UDC member Mrs.Mary Norman. There were many reports of this incident in the local news and across the AP.
The City Council in Auburn held their regular meeting on Tuesday the5th of May at 7pm. The Army of Tennessee and Alabama Division were very well represented at this council meeting. Present were myself, AoT Commander Kelly Barrow, AoT Councilman and Division 1st Lt.Commander Tom Strain, SEC Brigade Commander Larry Warren, SWC BrigadeCommander Joe Clark, NWC Brigade Commander Allan Koester, PastDivision Commanders Wilson and Simmons, Tallassee Camp CommanderRandall Hughey, Auburn Camp Commander Jerry Purcel, Florida Division1st Lt Commander Bob Hurst and forty plus fellow SCV members.
The evening began with the opening of the meeting room, where we occupied the front row and most of the center section of the seating. The Mayor then made a statement. In it he said: “Let me be clear, the issue here is not about race, the symbolism of the flag, or the City’s cemetery policies; it is about the removal of private property from a private grave.” He further stated “I want to assure the Daughter’s that I will not support any Council action limiting anyone’s right to honor their loved ones by placing flags on a grave.” They then altered the agenda to allow them to bring forward a resolution concerning Dowdell’s actions.
Councilman Bob Norman issued the following statement and resolution: “Statement: By his own admission, Councilman Arthur Dowdell enteredPine Hill Cemetery on April 23rd and removed confederate flags from private burial plots. He was quoted as saying “This will never happen again as long as I’m on the city council.” This is a passionate issue. There is no doubt that Mr. Dowdell is offended by the battle flag of the confederacy, and theappropriateness of its use is open to debate. The way councilman Dowdell chose to enter the debate is inappropriate and beneath the office of city councilman. His actions were inexcusable and have done nothing to help people on either side of this issue find common ground. They have stirred up old hatreds and created embarrassmentand and controversy for the city he represents. The bottom line is that those graves are private property, the placing of flags as memorials are expressions of free speech and Mr.Dowdell had no right to remove them.
The fact that Mr. Dowdell invoked his position as a city councilman demands that the city council speak to the issue. Therefore the following is offered as a resolution by the Auburn city council:
Whereas, by his own admission, Councilman Arthur Dowdell entered PineHill Cemetery on April 23rd and removed confederate flags from private burial plots; and
Whereas, Councilman Dowdell invoked his position as a city councilman by saying “This will never happen again as long as I’m on the city council;” and
Whereas, the foregoing action was inappropriate and beneath theoffice of a city councilman;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Auburn City Council condemns the actions taken by the Councilman Dowdell, and urges him to make a public apology to the citizens of Auburn, and to pledge tha thenceforth he will respect the private property and free speech rights of all citizens.”
This Resolution passed with one vote against by Dowdell. The Council then opened the floor for comment from Auburn citizens. A slight majority of these were those brought in by Dowdell, and they were in favor of him. There were also a number of citizens who took strong exception to his actions. The floor was then opened to speakers from outside Auburn. Randall Hughey was the firston our desired lineup, and he did an excellent job. Auburn Camp Commander Jerry Purcel (who lives outside the city limits) was next and did a fine job as well. The selection was not by sign up, but by recognition from the Mayor. Good points were made by a number of speakers and those opposed to Dowdell were the vast majority of those given.
When it became evident that almost everyone present would be comingup to the microphone, it was decided that the public comments would be saved until the end of the meeting. The regular business of the Council was covered in a very few minutes and we returned to public comment. Just over half of the comments were given in this second session. To the council’s credit they patiently listened to the comments being made and gave everyone a chance to speak. After the public comments session, Dowdell gave his statement in which he publicly apologized to the UDC and the SCV. He excused his actions due to “ignorancy” on his part, and noted that he contactedthe City Manager and Mayor about the flags and that they did not knowanything about them. He said the Mayor did know there was a program planned for Sunday.
Dowdell’s claims of ignorance appeared to be very well founded, though I will certainly not attest to his sense of honesty. The issue here though is that ignorance of the law is not an excuse for lawless behavior. As a closing comment, Councilman Robin Kelley was visibly shaken when he stated that Dowdell “Broke the law, and desecrated graves, end of discussion” in the removal of the flags. He further chastised Dowdell for not calling him, since it was in his ward. He explained that helived near the cemetery and knew exactly what the flags were for. Kelley stated that Dowdell would be highly unappreciative of his taking action in Dowdell’s ward without first informing Dowdell.
Kelley then called for the meeting to adjourn.
In the end what was achieved:
1. A statement by the Mayor that Dowdell removed private property from private grave plots.
2. A statement by the Mayor that he “will not support any Councilaction limiting anyone’s right to honor their loved ones by placingflags on a grave.”
3. A statement by Councilman Bob Norman and the city council thatDowdell removed (stole) private property and did so as a citycouncilman.
4. A Resolution that the City Council condemned the actions taken byDowdell and urged him to make an apology.
5. An apology from Dowdell to the UDC and the SCV.
6. A statement from Councilman Kelly that Dowdell “Broke the law, and desecrated graves, end of discussion”.
At this point Dowdell appears as he is, an ignorant self righteousand self serving thug who took the law into his own hands, and has been thoroughly chastised by us and the City Council.
Compatriots, there is no way for the Alabama Division, Sons ofConfederate Veterans to pursue a criminal suit against Councilman Dowdell because we do not have a witness willing to step forward to sign the arrest warrant and that no one has produced a list of the graves that were vandalized. We are unable to proceed any further inthis case.
It is also very clear that if we push this issue, we will possibly turn Councilman Dowdell into a martyr, and gentlemen this is exactly what he wants and needs at this point. In closing, this is clearly a victory for the Army of Tennessee and Alabama Division. We went to Auburn, showed up in numbers, represented the Division and SCV in a very honorable fashion, and left knowing that the City Council and Mayor’s office are clearly upsetwith Councilman Dowdell’s actions.
I would like to personally thankall of those involved who assisted the Alabama Division by following the Charge as set forth by General S.D. Lee to the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 1906.
Deo Vindice,
Robert C. Reames
Alabama Division Commander
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Dowdell Apologizes for Auburn Grave Desecration
Amy Weaver
Staff Writer
May 5, 2009
Auburn City Councilman Arthur L. Dowdell apologized Tuesday night for removing four Confederate battle flags from Pine Hill Cemetery on April 23.
Statement from the Mayor of Auburn / Bob Norman's statement and text of the resolution and Slideshow of the meeting available at link below.
Dowdell, the representative for Ward 1, pointed his apology toward members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans attending the council's regular meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council passed a resolution urging Dowdell "to make a public apology to the citizens of Auburn." With the resolution, the city council also condemned Dowdell's actions as "inappropriate and beneath the office of a city councilman."
Dowdell opposed the resolution since he hadn't seen it prior to the meeting, but agreed to voice his opinion to the council and citizens later in the meeting.
During the citizens comments portion of the meeting, Dowdell and the rest of the council listened to 25 citizens express their opinions on Dowdell and the Confederate flag for nearly two hours. After 12 people had spoken, Ward 8 Councilman Bob Norman asked to suspend the rest of citizens communications in order for the council to proceed with the remainder of the agenda. The remaining business took all of five minutes and citizens were speaking again.
The majority of citizen speakers were from outside Auburn. About half supported Dowdell and his actions, agreeing use of the flag was offensive.
"I don't care if it was one flag or 100 flags, if it don't say United States of America, to me, it's wrong," said the Rev. Larry Taylor, who identified himself as Dowdell's brother.
Others, including several members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, disagreed, and said they considered the flag removal a violation of civil rights.
"You may not agree with them, but that doesn't give you the right to violate freedom of speech," said Auburn resident Benjamin Bacon.
Billy Bearden said he traveled 90 miles from Mt. Zion, Ga., because he was so motivated by the issue. Bearden, dressed in a full Confederate uniform, carrying a small Confederate battle flag, marched up and down the sidewalk in front of city hall for a couple of hours before the meeting.
"I'm here to speak for those who can't," he said, referring to the Confederate soldiers.
Bearden told the council he considered Dowdell's actions to be the same as someone knocking over his father's headstone in Arlington National Cemetery and spitting on it.
Dowdell defended his actions in his address. Since neither the city manager nor the mayor were able to tell him why the flags were in Pine Hill, Dowdell said he thought they were there for a KKK rally. Had he known they were there for the Confederate Memorial Day ceremony, he said he would have walked away.
He apologized to both Confederate groups. He said it was not his intention to hurt them. Dowdell said his actions were the result of "miscommunication" and "ignorance." "I'm sorry this happened," he said. "I hope we can get passed it."
During the meeting, the mayor and Norman each read prepared statements expressing their disapproval of their fellow councilman's action.
Ward 5 Councilman Robin Kelley got in the last word of the evening when he expressed his disappointment in Dowdell for not asking him about the flags. Pine Hill is in Kelley's ward.
"I was never contacted," Kelley said. "If you called me, I would have told you (what they were for.)
"It's desecration what you did. End of discussion."
http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/dowdell_apologizes/71268/
Staff Writer
May 5, 2009
Auburn City Councilman Arthur L. Dowdell apologized Tuesday night for removing four Confederate battle flags from Pine Hill Cemetery on April 23.
Statement from the Mayor of Auburn / Bob Norman's statement and text of the resolution and Slideshow of the meeting available at link below.
Dowdell, the representative for Ward 1, pointed his apology toward members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans attending the council's regular meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council passed a resolution urging Dowdell "to make a public apology to the citizens of Auburn." With the resolution, the city council also condemned Dowdell's actions as "inappropriate and beneath the office of a city councilman."
Dowdell opposed the resolution since he hadn't seen it prior to the meeting, but agreed to voice his opinion to the council and citizens later in the meeting.
During the citizens comments portion of the meeting, Dowdell and the rest of the council listened to 25 citizens express their opinions on Dowdell and the Confederate flag for nearly two hours. After 12 people had spoken, Ward 8 Councilman Bob Norman asked to suspend the rest of citizens communications in order for the council to proceed with the remainder of the agenda. The remaining business took all of five minutes and citizens were speaking again.
The majority of citizen speakers were from outside Auburn. About half supported Dowdell and his actions, agreeing use of the flag was offensive.
"I don't care if it was one flag or 100 flags, if it don't say United States of America, to me, it's wrong," said the Rev. Larry Taylor, who identified himself as Dowdell's brother.
Others, including several members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, disagreed, and said they considered the flag removal a violation of civil rights.
"You may not agree with them, but that doesn't give you the right to violate freedom of speech," said Auburn resident Benjamin Bacon.
Billy Bearden said he traveled 90 miles from Mt. Zion, Ga., because he was so motivated by the issue. Bearden, dressed in a full Confederate uniform, carrying a small Confederate battle flag, marched up and down the sidewalk in front of city hall for a couple of hours before the meeting.
"I'm here to speak for those who can't," he said, referring to the Confederate soldiers.
Bearden told the council he considered Dowdell's actions to be the same as someone knocking over his father's headstone in Arlington National Cemetery and spitting on it.
Dowdell defended his actions in his address. Since neither the city manager nor the mayor were able to tell him why the flags were in Pine Hill, Dowdell said he thought they were there for a KKK rally. Had he known they were there for the Confederate Memorial Day ceremony, he said he would have walked away.
He apologized to both Confederate groups. He said it was not his intention to hurt them. Dowdell said his actions were the result of "miscommunication" and "ignorance." "I'm sorry this happened," he said. "I hope we can get passed it."
During the meeting, the mayor and Norman each read prepared statements expressing their disapproval of their fellow councilman's action.
Ward 5 Councilman Robin Kelley got in the last word of the evening when he expressed his disappointment in Dowdell for not asking him about the flags. Pine Hill is in Kelley's ward.
"I was never contacted," Kelley said. "If you called me, I would have told you (what they were for.)
"It's desecration what you did. End of discussion."
http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/dowdell_apologizes/71268/
Monday, May 4, 2009
Southern Pride Flies over Florida
Kenric Ward: Southern pride flies over Florida
By Kenric Ward
Sunday, May 3, 2009
TAMPA — In case you missed it, Confederate Memorial Day was April 26.
While 18 million Floridians may have been oblivious to the state-sanctioned holiday, nearly 2,000 people gathered in east Tampa the day before to raise a toast, and a flag, to Southern pride and the antebellum affinity for state’s rights.
The banner for their celebration was a 35-foot-by-60-foot battle flag, hoisted on a 139-foot poll at the Interstate 75/Interstate 4 interchange. Touted as the largest in the world, the Stars and Bars flapped in the breeze, rippling to a mixture of reverence and Rebel Yells.
If an assemblage of Civil War re-enactors seems anachronistic, don’t tell that to Marion Lambert and members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This throng ran the gamut from the pre-pubescent to the post-septuagenarian. Entertainers ranged from folk musicians to Lynyrd Skynyrd knockoffs. A few African-Americans even joined in the festivities.
Moving forward, Lambert says Florida’s SCV is using high-tech mapping tools to locate future flag sites. Previously raised in Lake City (on I-75 near Interstate 10) and Havana (U.S. 27 north of Tallahassee), additional flag locations are targeted for Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Pensacola.
While the flag evokes fear and loathing among some — Gov. Jeb Bush removed it from the Capitol grounds in the 1990s — the SCV remains proudly unreconstructed.
“Did you know that out of the 224 years that slavery was legal in this country, only four of those years did the Confederate battle flag fly?” asks Georgia pastor John Weaver.
Historians also point out that the Stars and Bars never flew on a slave ship. That honor was reserved for the Stars and Stripes.
“When Massachusetts ended slavery, they sold their last slaves to the South, and while the money was jingling in their pockets, they looked down their long, pointed noses at us,” Weaver cried.
Alexis de Tocqueville, writing in “Democracy in America,” foresaw in 1830 an “irrepressible conflict” between North and South. Almost 150 years after the last shots were fired in the War Between the States, a geographic and cultural divide remains. Though no one is talking about re-imposing slavery, the Confederate battle flag remains iconic.
Bearing St. Andrew’s cross, and the Christianity that adheres to it, the Rebel banner has rallied freedom fighters around the globe. When the Berlin Wall fell, the Stars and Bars waved amidst the cheering East Germans.
Florida’s Confederate remnant didn’t lay down its arms until May 10, 1865, almost a month after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Gov. John Milton, who said he would rather die than live under Yankee rule, committed suicide at the end of the war. Tallahassee was the only state capital east of the Mississippi not occupied by Union forces.
Plaques at the Tampa monument commemorate such history and recount depredations committed by Union troops on civilians. Secessionist-author Walter “Donnie” Kennedy amplified on the subject, relating that Karl Marx applauded Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in 1864 as a victory for centralized government control and “the reconstruction of a social world.”
If the Florida SCV wins state approval for a Confederate license plate, the $25-per-tag revenue will help to expand the organization’s “Flags Across Florida” campaign. At an estimated cost of $140,000, memorials like the one in Tampa will require a lot of tag sales.
Ultimately, though, the SCV says it’s not enough to put up new banners — no matter how big.
“It’s not enough to raise the Confederate flag,” Weaver declared Saturday. “We must raise Confederates!”
Lambert says there are about 1,700 Florida SCV members (who, by organization rules, are descendants of Confederate soldiers) and 35,000 across the South. To see how their work is going, visit the memorial park at 10418 U.S. 92.
Just look for the flag. You can’t miss it.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/may/03/kenric-ward-southern-pride-flies-over-florida/
By Kenric Ward
Sunday, May 3, 2009
TAMPA — In case you missed it, Confederate Memorial Day was April 26.
While 18 million Floridians may have been oblivious to the state-sanctioned holiday, nearly 2,000 people gathered in east Tampa the day before to raise a toast, and a flag, to Southern pride and the antebellum affinity for state’s rights.
The banner for their celebration was a 35-foot-by-60-foot battle flag, hoisted on a 139-foot poll at the Interstate 75/Interstate 4 interchange. Touted as the largest in the world, the Stars and Bars flapped in the breeze, rippling to a mixture of reverence and Rebel Yells.
If an assemblage of Civil War re-enactors seems anachronistic, don’t tell that to Marion Lambert and members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This throng ran the gamut from the pre-pubescent to the post-septuagenarian. Entertainers ranged from folk musicians to Lynyrd Skynyrd knockoffs. A few African-Americans even joined in the festivities.
Moving forward, Lambert says Florida’s SCV is using high-tech mapping tools to locate future flag sites. Previously raised in Lake City (on I-75 near Interstate 10) and Havana (U.S. 27 north of Tallahassee), additional flag locations are targeted for Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Pensacola.
While the flag evokes fear and loathing among some — Gov. Jeb Bush removed it from the Capitol grounds in the 1990s — the SCV remains proudly unreconstructed.
“Did you know that out of the 224 years that slavery was legal in this country, only four of those years did the Confederate battle flag fly?” asks Georgia pastor John Weaver.
Historians also point out that the Stars and Bars never flew on a slave ship. That honor was reserved for the Stars and Stripes.
“When Massachusetts ended slavery, they sold their last slaves to the South, and while the money was jingling in their pockets, they looked down their long, pointed noses at us,” Weaver cried.
Alexis de Tocqueville, writing in “Democracy in America,” foresaw in 1830 an “irrepressible conflict” between North and South. Almost 150 years after the last shots were fired in the War Between the States, a geographic and cultural divide remains. Though no one is talking about re-imposing slavery, the Confederate battle flag remains iconic.
Bearing St. Andrew’s cross, and the Christianity that adheres to it, the Rebel banner has rallied freedom fighters around the globe. When the Berlin Wall fell, the Stars and Bars waved amidst the cheering East Germans.
Florida’s Confederate remnant didn’t lay down its arms until May 10, 1865, almost a month after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Gov. John Milton, who said he would rather die than live under Yankee rule, committed suicide at the end of the war. Tallahassee was the only state capital east of the Mississippi not occupied by Union forces.
Plaques at the Tampa monument commemorate such history and recount depredations committed by Union troops on civilians. Secessionist-author Walter “Donnie” Kennedy amplified on the subject, relating that Karl Marx applauded Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in 1864 as a victory for centralized government control and “the reconstruction of a social world.”
If the Florida SCV wins state approval for a Confederate license plate, the $25-per-tag revenue will help to expand the organization’s “Flags Across Florida” campaign. At an estimated cost of $140,000, memorials like the one in Tampa will require a lot of tag sales.
Ultimately, though, the SCV says it’s not enough to put up new banners — no matter how big.
“It’s not enough to raise the Confederate flag,” Weaver declared Saturday. “We must raise Confederates!”
Lambert says there are about 1,700 Florida SCV members (who, by organization rules, are descendants of Confederate soldiers) and 35,000 across the South. To see how their work is going, visit the memorial park at 10418 U.S. 92.
Just look for the flag. You can’t miss it.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/may/03/kenric-ward-southern-pride-flies-over-florida/
Sunday, May 3, 2009
National Committee Reports Due June 1
Compatriot Committee Chairmen,
In just a few months we will meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas for our annual reunion. At our reunions we distribute a book of reports containing reports from our Committees regarding the activities and accomplishments of the committees during the last year. This is the best opportunity to inform the Confederation of what you have done in the last year and to establish a record for the benefit of future SCV members to know what was happening in the Confederation from 2008-2009.
Of course, for your commttee's report to be in the report book, we need each comittee chairman to submit a report. These reports should, if at all possible, be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. They should be submitted without an attached letterhead - a standard letterhead will be provided for the reports. If you wish to submit a photo(s) with your report they should be sent as a separate jpg attachement. Please do not imbed photos into the Word Document.
The deadline for these reports is JUNE 1.
Reports should be sent to me at chuckrand3@gmail.com AND to Assistant Chief of Staff Terry Crayton at tcrayton1@carolina.rr.com.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 318-387-3791 or at my gmail address.
I look forward to reading your reports and to seeing each of you at the Hot Springs Reunion.
YOS,
Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff
In just a few months we will meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas for our annual reunion. At our reunions we distribute a book of reports containing reports from our Committees regarding the activities and accomplishments of the committees during the last year. This is the best opportunity to inform the Confederation of what you have done in the last year and to establish a record for the benefit of future SCV members to know what was happening in the Confederation from 2008-2009.
Of course, for your commttee's report to be in the report book, we need each comittee chairman to submit a report. These reports should, if at all possible, be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. They should be submitted without an attached letterhead - a standard letterhead will be provided for the reports. If you wish to submit a photo(s) with your report they should be sent as a separate jpg attachement. Please do not imbed photos into the Word Document.
The deadline for these reports is JUNE 1.
Reports should be sent to me at chuckrand3@gmail.com AND to Assistant Chief of Staff Terry Crayton at tcrayton1@carolina.rr.com.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 318-387-3791 or at my gmail address.
I look forward to reading your reports and to seeing each of you at the Hot Springs Reunion.
YOS,
Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff
Notice to Division Commanders - Reports Due June 1
Compatriot Division Commanders,
In just a few months we will meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas for our annual reunion. At our reunions we distribute a book of reports containing reports from Division Commanders regarding the activities and accomplishments of their divisions in the last year. This is the best opportunity to inform the Confederation of what you have done in the last year and to establish a record for the benefit of future SCV members to know what was happening in the Confederation from 2008-2009.
Of course, for your division's report to be in the book, we need each division commander to submit a report. These reports should, if at all possible, be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. They should be submitted without an attached letterhead - a standard letterhead will be provided for the reports. If you wish to submit a photo(s) with your report they should be sent as a separate jpg attachement. Please do not imbed photos into the Word Document.
The deadline for these reports is JUNE 1.
Reports should be sent to me at chuckrand3@gmail.com AND to Assistant Chief of Staff Terry Crayton at tcrayton1@carolina.rr.com.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 318-387-3791 or at my gmail address.
I look forward to reading your reports and to seeing each of you at the Hot Springs Reunion.
YOS,
Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff
In just a few months we will meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas for our annual reunion. At our reunions we distribute a book of reports containing reports from Division Commanders regarding the activities and accomplishments of their divisions in the last year. This is the best opportunity to inform the Confederation of what you have done in the last year and to establish a record for the benefit of future SCV members to know what was happening in the Confederation from 2008-2009.
Of course, for your division's report to be in the book, we need each division commander to submit a report. These reports should, if at all possible, be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. They should be submitted without an attached letterhead - a standard letterhead will be provided for the reports. If you wish to submit a photo(s) with your report they should be sent as a separate jpg attachement. Please do not imbed photos into the Word Document.
The deadline for these reports is JUNE 1.
Reports should be sent to me at chuckrand3@gmail.com AND to Assistant Chief of Staff Terry Crayton at tcrayton1@carolina.rr.com.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 318-387-3791 or at my gmail address.
I look forward to reading your reports and to seeing each of you at the Hot Springs Reunion.
YOS,
Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff
Friday, May 1, 2009
Confederate Memorial Celebrated in Portland, Oregon
Compatriots,
While we often hear about and participate in events from Virginia to Texas, there are many compatriots in areas out side the Confederacy. We have camps in Alaska, Califorina, New York, New Mexico and Europe - Just to name a few of the many locations where one might be surprised to find an SCV presence.
These compatriots work hard for our Heritage but often do not get recognition for their efforts. Below is a link from our compatriots in Oregon about their recent Confederate Memorial Day Celebration.
www.scvportland.org/cmdweb.htm
Chuck Rand
COS
While we often hear about and participate in events from Virginia to Texas, there are many compatriots in areas out side the Confederacy. We have camps in Alaska, Califorina, New York, New Mexico and Europe - Just to name a few of the many locations where one might be surprised to find an SCV presence.
These compatriots work hard for our Heritage but often do not get recognition for their efforts. Below is a link from our compatriots in Oregon about their recent Confederate Memorial Day Celebration.
www.scvportland.org/cmdweb.htm
Chuck Rand
COS
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