Lee & Jackson Honored in Michigan Events

Robert Edward Lee (whose birthday is January 19, 1807) and Thomas Jonathan Jackson (whose birthday is January 21, 1824) have long been celebrated heroes throughout the South; Lee's birthday became a holiday in the south around 1889 and Jackson's was added to it in 1904. Since then, the combined Lee-Jackson Day has been celebrated, officially & unofficially, by folks of Confederate ancestry and freedom loving people all over the world on appropriate dates throughout the month of January every year.

Here in the Great Lakes State, the Michigan Camps of the SCV honored these two great leaders with two very special events.

For the Major-General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Camp #2257, winter-weather related delays forced them to push back their 2nd Annual Christmas Dinner to the month of January, and thus transformed the event into a combined "Late Christmas/Lee-Jackson Day Dinner." The following report on this gathering was submitted by Cmdr. Jim Perkins of Camp #2257:

The second Annual Camp 2257 Christmas Dinner, which was twice postponed due to inclement weather, was finally held and  was renamed the Late Christmas/Lee-Jackson Dinner. Saturday, 14 January, eighteen Cleburne Camp members and guests gathered at Belvidere Township Hall in Six Lakes, where they celebrated the birthdays of Confederate heroes Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. 

Dinner was served at 1:30 and on the menu was turducken, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, chicken wings, and coleslaw. Also on hand was plenty of citrus punch, water, and soda to wash it down, while for desert there was chocolate and vanilla cake, along with orange jello.

Without a doubt the highlight of the day was the introduction and  welcoming of three new SCV Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, Camp 2257 members, Michael Woroniak and son Paul Woroniak of Manistee; and Rick Bigham of Howell. The three new compatriots received SCV certificates and other members were all afforded the splendid opportunity to meet them.

    

Following the new member ceremony, clips from the movie, Gods and Generals were shown as homage was paid to Generals Lee and Jackson before our silent auction was held and raised $165, as members purchased a variety of Confederate items that were donated by members and guests. Subsequently, two checks were sent from Camp 2257 to SCV National Headquarters at Elm Springs near Columbia, Tennessee: the first in the amount of $115.00 was written to the SCV Heritage Defense Fund; while the second check written for $50.00 went toward the new SCV Museum which is being built on site at SCV National Headquarters.

Finally, the afternoon-long celebration adjourned with the singing of that most beautiful tune, Dixie. Thank you members for attending this year’s dinner, and for your kind generosity. Hopefully, y’all will return along with many more members next year and may the Almighty Providence continue to bless you and your families. 

One week later, on January 21st (Stonewall Jackson's birthday), the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 hosted it's annual Lee-Jackson Day Dinner at a banquet hall in Milford, MI. While this event is always one of the best attended of the year, this year's attendance was by far the best all-time. Members of SCV Camp #2257, ladies from the Thomas Ryan Chapter #2689 - United Daughters of the Confederacy, plus a number of friends and guests joined the members of the Semmes Camp in honoring these southern heroes.

  Before jumping into the event's festivities, Cmdr. Darron Williams began the ceremonies by honoring the camp's recently departed charter member, Fr. Constantine-Paul Michael Belisarius, with the SCV's memorial rites for a departed compatriot. 

     

   
Following this solemn ceremony, Cmdr. Williams welcomed all who came out, and kicked things off by showing two special videos - one a music video for "You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie" (as performed by the Bellamy Brothers) and another that focused on the truth about slavery. 2nd Lt.Cmdr. Jonathan McCleese was then introduced. At the request of Mrs. Margaret Bigham (from UDC Chapter #2689), a special certificate was presented to honor the Vietnam service of Andrew Keeney, who's wife is a member of the UDC's Thomas Ryan Chapter. Then 2nd Lt.Cmdr. McCleese gave a presentation on the lives of Robert E. Lee & "Stonewall" Jackson.

Throughout the event, a 50/50 raffle and silent auction were held to raise funds for the SCV's Heritage Defense Fund. Thanks to those who donated items for the auction and the generosity of those who participated, the camp was able to raise $508.00, which will assist our organization in paying for the legal battles that arise when the fight to preserve our heritage goes to the courthouse.

For the close of our very special night, we had a new Compatriot, William Maynard, take the oath of membership. Making it all the more special was having his brother, Compatriot Ben Maynard, present him with his certificate of membership.

[Image courtesy of Kirk Chidester]

Robert E. Lee & Stonewall Jackson have long been examples of the best of America. Even in the north, both men were revered and honored by those who fought on the opposite side from them in mortal combat. Today, in our modern culture, society has shifted away from honoring honorable men such as these, but we here in the Michigan Camps of the SCV and many other like minded individuals around our nation still recognize the valuable lessons the memory of these men can still teach... lessons in duty, courage, military service, sacrifice, living moral lives, and commitment to serving God. Let us never forget these two great Southern warriors, and let us always remember to teach other the importance of honoring their memory. Many thanks to everyone who came out to these two special events held in their honor.

To the Memory of Jackson! To the Memory of Lee! To God be the glory! Amen!