Honor for the Confederacy at the Michigan State Capitol

If I were to ask, I'd venture to guess that very, very few could actually tell me the event of Confederate significance which occurred in Michigan during the fall of 1941. It was, however, on September 20th of that very year when the State of Michigan returned to the Southern states 13 battle flags and three swords, which were taken as spoils of war during The War Between the States more than 75 years earlier.

Taking place on the east steps of the state capitol building, it was described by Maynard Hill in the State Journal newspaper (out of Lansing, MI) as "one of the most colorful open-air ceremonies ever held here (in Michigan)." The event was broadcast nationwide on the radio, and covered by numerous print & photo journalists.

Gen. Julius F. Howell, CiC. of the United Confederate Veterans addresses, with Gov. Van Wagoner of Michigan. [This copy of the original 1941 image is in the Camp #1321 archives, but all rights belong to the photographer and original publisher and it is used under the Fair Use Doctrine.]

Michigan was one of the last of the northern states to return captured Confederate relics. It was through the initiative & efforts of local radio broadcaster Duncan Moore, his radio station (WJR) & the city of Detroit that the legislation was passed in the state congress to make this event happen. Also very influential in making the flag return possible was Mrs. John Bushnell of Detroit; Mrs. Bushnell was a past President of the Robert E. Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Detroit, and was also the mother of George Bushnell, a then-current Michigan Supreme Court Justice.

Representatives were sent from 12 of the former Confederate states to receive these southern war-artifacts on behalf of their respective states and the entire south. The representatives were:

TN - Gen. Julius F. Howell, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans
VA - Gov. James H. Price, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
KY - Hon. Rodes K. Meyers, Lt. Governor of Kentucky
TX - Hon. Hatton W. Sumners, U.S. Congressman from Texas' 5th District
AL - Peter A. Brannon, Alabama State Military Archivist
AR - John Pipkin, Arkansas Commissioner of Public Welfare
FL  - Lt.Col. Phillip Stockton May, Florida Governor's Staff
GA - Mrs. Arthur M. Wilson Jr., President of the Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association
LA - Roland Cocreham, Executive Assistant to the Gov. of Louisiana
MS - Dr. W.E. Holcomb, Representative of the Gov. of Mississippi
NC - Dr. C.C. Crittenden, Secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission
SC - Edward B. Houseal, Representative of the Gov. of South Carolina

Faded & frail, the flags were packaged in gift boxes trimmed with red, white and blue, and the swords were similarly wrapped. Each was presented to the respective Southern representatives by the Governor of Michigan, Murray Delos Van Wagoner. As each presentation was made, the drum and bugle corps of the Morley S. Oates post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was on hand to punctuate it with a blare of trumpets.

As a military event, this one was particularly unique, with men, both on the speakers' platform and in the audience, wearing military uniforms that spanned more than 75 years of American military history! There were Southern veterans in Confederate gray uniforms, several Union veterans in their blue uniforms, veterans of the (first) World War in their khaki uniforms, a cream-colored uniform worn by a Georgia military aide, and the brand new gray uniform of the then newly formed Michigan state "home defense" troops.

Heading up the delegation of distinguished Southern representatives was the 95-year-old Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, Gen. Julius F. Howell, who was representing the state of Tennessee. Upon receiving a flag and a sword from Michigan's Governor, General Howell thanked the Governor in a clear, firm voice, saying that it was "a most gracious gesture."

The event was tightly scheduled because of time constraints on the radio broadcast, and speakers were asked to make their remarks brief, but when a military aide tried to hurry General Howell, Howell just waved him off (which caused quite a laugh from the crowd) and proceeded to tell stories from his time in the war. Thankfully the radio affiliates were understanding, and respectfully continued their coverage despite going a little over the allotted amount of broadcast time.

In his address, speaking to the Southern delegation collectively, Gov. Van Wagoner said, "I speak for all of Michigan in thanking you for your graciousness in receiving them (the artifacts) in the spirit in which they are given," adding that the relics being given back "have not in a generation been looked upon as trophies. Instead, they have served as reminders of the the glory and the honor that [was] ... [Robert E.] Lee. They have served to remind us of our debt to those who bequeathed us a vast wealth of rich character, and a never-failing source of inspiration. Love and understanding have replaced all bitterness and hate. Mutual respect and fraternal fellowship have come to bless the common purpose of our national endeavor."

Much of the information on this event has been gleaned from the pages of the Winter 1942 edition of the Michigan History Magazine. At the end of the report, the following comments were included by the quarterly publication's editor, George N. Fuller, who wrote:

"We honor these flags, as we honor the brave men who marched beneath them in days that are gone. They are but flags, yet they speak to us of the thousands of boys in Gray, who with faith and hope of youth went into battle for a cause they held dear, the preservation of the ideals and traditions of the Old South. With the eye of fancy, we can see these boys as they stand in line, - as the word is given, see them charge, and form, as the air rings with the storm of battle, some of them never to return to the courageous wives and mothers who sent them away with their blessing. These flags tell of hopes, and of fears, and of prayers for these boys. And now these flags return home, and there they will speak silently to the sons and daughters of the men who bore them, of losses that can never be forgotten..."

[Image from the 1991 50th Anniversary Commemoration of Michigan returning it's Confederate relics.]

Before I close, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this event was remembered on it's 50th anniversary by the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with a parade & certificate of appreciation ceremony at the Michigan State Capitol.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan M. McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Sources:
[Hill, Maynard. "Return of the Confederate Flags." Michigan History Magazine 1942: 5-23. Print. Volume XXVI, Winter Edition]
[Taishoff, Sol, ed. "Studio Notes." Broadcasting & Broadcast Advertising 6 Oct. 1941: 47. Print.]
[SCV Camp 1321 Archives]

The Jefferson Davis Monument (Monument Ave., Richmond, VA)

[The dedication of the Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; June 3, 1907]

 At 2 o'clock in the afternoon on June 3, 1907, before a crowd of thousands of admirers, the Jefferson Davis Monument, on Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA, was unveiled and dedicated to honor the Confederacy's only President on what would have been his 99th birthday.

The event was widely covered in periodical publications of the day, including The Confederate Veteran magazine, which described the scene as "all that could have been imagined. Such a sea of human beings was hardly ever seen in the South... it was a gala day [as] rockets were being sent high above, from which emerged many beautiful figures, conspicuous among which were balloons with magnificent Confederate flags floating, which fell in different parts of the assembly, and a fine band of music and hundreds of girls were singing about the area of the monument. Such a joyous throng of so great magnitude must have rarely ever been witnessed on the earth."

The crowd was extremely large, estimated as being "not less than 125,000" by Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, and that was just the crowd surrounding the Davis monument! Over 1,200 old Confederate veterans & sons are said to have marched down the flag-decorated streets with over 200,000 parade watchers cheering them on.

[Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee & others below the soon to be unveiled monument]

One old soldier, bent and weary with age after the parade, told a newspaper reporter, "I was a boy again while the march lasted, but, now that it's over, I'm an old broken man ready to die." He, like so many others, marched like boys again with strength & affection for the Southern Cause, despite the toll that age had taken since the flags were furled at Appomattox.

The speakers stand was filled with dignitaries such as Gen S.D. Lee, Rev J. William Jones, Hon. Claude Swanson - Governor of Virginia, Hon. Carlton McCarthy - Mayor of Richmond, and Maj.Gen. Samuel D. French - the oldest surviving major-general from the Confederate service. Seated on the stage along with these great men was perhaps the most notable gathering of Confederate women ever assembled at an unveiling, including Ms. Mary Custis Lee (daughter of Gen. Robert E. Lee), Mrs. Mary Anna Jackson (widow of "Stonewall" Jackson), and Mrs. Flora Stuart (widow of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart), and others equally worthy of note.

The lady who was given the most attention on this day, however, and rightfully so, was Mrs. Margaret Davis Hayes, the daughter of the late Southern President. It was she, along with two of her children, who had the honored duty of actually making the great unveiling of the Davis monument. When the signal was given, the President's heirs withdrew the veil that covered the statue of the late chieftain! Instantly the guns of the Howitzers boomed out in a Presidential salute, the bands struck up in the playing of 'Dixie,' and deafening cheers & applause erupted from the crowd! For several minutes the air was filled with thunder as fireworks were sent off, celebratory bombs exploded, children sang, and the multitudes roared in excitement as balloons carrying Confederate flags floated overhead.

[The Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; July 12, 2016]

After the monument's unveiling, Governor Swanson gave an address to the gathered throngs. I will not reprint it here in full, but in part let me share the following portion of his remarks:

"Sirs, the brave and noble deeds of the Confederate soldiers, extending from the drummer-boy to the great commander - the God-like Lee, constitute for the South her proudest and most precious heritage. We will teach our children's children to cherish the glory, the unsullied honor and the dauntless courage of the Confederate soldier. We purpose that in every county and city of the South some day shall stand a granite or marble column to bear testimony to his heroism and glory." 

[The Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; July 12, 2016]

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Have You Forgotten...?

This past Sunday, our nation reflected on a dark day in it's history - September 11, 2001 - remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost 15 years ago when Islamic terrorists hijacked airplanes and rammed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and attempted to fly a plane into another target (probably either U.S. Capitol or the White House) before being thwarted by the plane's brave passengers who rammed the plane into the earth to save other lives.

An oft heard question each year around that date is "Have You Forgotten?"

While it is safe to say that no one of a certain age who was living in this country on that dark day has intentionally forgotten what happened, one day that event will become a factoid in a history book and no one who was alive then will still yet inhabit the planet to recall it's horrific events.

Here we are in 2016, more than 150 years after the conclusion of the War Between the States, the costliest conflict in this nation's history in terms of lives lost and blood shed, but I must sadly declare that many Southerners have forgotten not only it's causes and events but also they have forgotten about the lives of their ancestors who were killed for the cause of Southern independence from federal tyranny.

(Image Courtesy of Maeve Magdalen)

Have YOU, personally, forgotten that...

... more than 4,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gettysburg between July 1-3, 1863?

... more than 2,300 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Chickamauga between September 19-20, 1863?

... more than 1,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862?

... more than 1,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864?

... more than 1,600 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Chancellorsville in April & May 1863?

... more than 1,500 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Sharpsburg on Sept. 17, 1862?

... more than 1,500 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864?

... more than 1,400 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 27, 1862?

... more than 1,400 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864?

... more than 1,200 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Stones River between Dec. 31, 1862 - Jan. 2, 1863?

... the tens-of-thousands more Confederate soldiers who were killed or wounded at dozens of other battlefields across the South?

... the civilian casualties of Lincoln's war on the South, which are estimated by historians to number into the tens-of-thousands, maybe as high as 50,000+, the vast majority of whom were Southerners?

While it is good and right to remember those victims of terrorism from 9/11/2001, it is despicable that we sons & daughters of Confederate veterans cannot show the same respect & honor to our ancestors, who were no less victims of invasion & terrorism, without being vilified for it! Today it's the memory of our Confederate ancestors which is under attack; in 150 years it might be the memory of you or someone you personally know & love who served in the U.S. military after that dark September day.

We should never forget what happened to our ancestors and to our native Southland in the War of 1861-1865...

WE, THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET!

DEO VINDICE!
Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

LAKEVIEW POLICEMAN HONORED BY MICHIGAN SCV CAMP

[Excited today to bring you this story from the Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Camp #2257 out of Grand Rapids, MI. Many thanks to Cmdr. Jim Perkins (Camp #2257) for sending this in.]

LAKEVIEW POLICEMAN HONORED BY LOCAL SCV CAMP

-submitted by James D. Perkins-

     Thursday, August 18th has been designated as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day by the National Headquarters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a heritage group that honors the citizen soldiers who served honorably in the War for Southern Independence (i.e. Civil War) during the years 1861-1865. SCV Commander-in-Chief Thomas V. Strain has recently  issued General Order 2016-01, which is stated below:

     Hence, we the Major-General Patrick R. Cleburne, Camp 2257 of Western Michigan, would like to honor and personally recognize Lakeview Police Chief Darin Dood, for his dedicated service to his community. For the past ten years, Darin has held the position as Chief and has worked tirelessly to make the police department stronger and more efficient. "I have always had a desire to fix things, leave them better than when I found them. When I took on the role as chief of police in Lakeview, I brought that mentality to the department," replies Dood.

     In addition to surrounding himself with a "solid staff," Chief Dood has been able to secure local grants and successfully collaborate with the Village Manager to budget in ways that have allowed the department the means to acquire equipment, safety gear, and computers in police cars. Furthermore, Chief Dood emphasizes that "community involvement is a priority."

     With today's political climate being as it is, Darin states that "there are many sad things going on in our country today (not only in the law enforcement arena) and they seem to be typically blown out of proportion by the media." Chief Dood also adds that the stories presented to the public are most often based on "partial facts and then questions posed as 'what ifs', getting citizens to question everything." The ensuing uproar and chaos that results leads Dood to observe that "it seems to me that common sense is becoming less and less common," however, "despite these things, our community seems to be different."

     Since Darin has been chief, he has noticed that there is a general "out-pouring of law enforcement support," and notes that following the murder of the police officers in Dallas, Texas, "our office was brought sympathy cards and cupcakes to honor our loss." Needless to say, Chief Dood and his staff were gratified and impressed by this support, and credits this partially due to his agency's involvement with community. "Talking to people on the street, going to football games, and working in the schools makes us one with the community, and thus "breaks down the us versus them mentality," states Dood.

     It is quite obvious that Chief Dood is passionate about his job, and when one looks at his background, it is no great surprise. From an early age he "grew up wanting to be a police officer" in Jenison, Michigan where he enjoyed watching television shows such as, Chips, Hill Street Blues, and NYPD Blues. "I had a strong desire to fight crime and to help people, and these television series made it look so easy, fun, and full of action," recalls Darin. Nevertheless, following his public school and post graduate years, Dood tried his hand at other pursuits, including business management as well as a painting contractor, but eventually it was his childhood dream of being a policeman that drove him to return to Grand Rapids Community College at age 26 to pursue a career in law enforcement.

     Today Chief Dood is grateful for the support received daily from his wife, Brandy and sons, Cameron and Brennan "for always being my solid ground to come home to every day." As Dood thoughtfully points out, many interruptions and inconveniences accompany his duties as police chief on a consistent basis, and his family has been understanding and supportive in times of his absence, phone calls that come during dinner, and the frequent early morning emergencies that he must respond to. Furthermore, Darin notes that often his sons must deal with "mean spirited" social media comments, regarding peer judgment of necessary duties carried out by the police force. "My family seems to always find the strength to shield all of that drama which had nothing to do with them, which I never take for granted," replies Chief Dood.

     For the past ten years, Lakeview Village police Chief Darin Dood has devoted his life to serving the community of Lakeview, and during these ten years has continued to strive for excellence through improvement of methods for hiring police staff; collaboration with the village government in order to secure better equipment; and by improving relations with citizens and students. We as citizens of the Lakeview area are very fortunate that Chief Darin Dood works for and with us daily, and certainly can be thankful that he has "always had a desire to fix things, and leave them better than when I found them." Thank you Chief Dood and we are very much honored to honor you, Sir.  

The Sandlick Creek Cemetery (Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY)

Greetings Confederates!
I just returned earlier this week from my second of two excursions down to the Southland. While down there, I had the pleasure of meeting & spending time with members of several camps in the Kentucky Division of the SCV. One of those occasions was at the August camp-meeting for the Col. Ben E. Caudill Camp #1629, out of Whitesburg, KY, where I was permitted to sit in on the meeting and also assist with a clean-up effort at one of the Confederate sites that camp maintains - the Confederate section of the Sandlick Creek Cemetery. 

Though I didn't get any pictures of the meeting, this was not my first visit to the cemetery, so I do have some pictures I can share with all of you from the site.

The Sandlick Creek Cemetery rests in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Kentucky, and during the war between the states it was located near the home of John A. Caudill, Confederate sympathizer and father of Col. Benjamin E. Caudill of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry, one of the "Immortal 600." It was on his father's property where Col. Caudill would drill and train the men under his command, and also where a hospital was established for Confederates in that area. As men from the regiment died, many of them would come to be buried on this nearby hill, and it is also where Col. Caudill's parents would come to be buried.

This section of the cemetery where the Southern defenders lie at rest was neglected and forgotten over time. For many years it was covered in weeds and brambles until, through the efforts of Camp #1629, these graves were located. With the assistance of some surviving records, several of the Confederate graves were able to be completely marked, but for many there is only a stone with a Southern Cross insignia and the words "Unknown Soldier." That is because many of the records from the old Confederate hospital were burned by Union troops.

The Col. Ben E. Caudill Camp #1629 takes great care of these Confederate graves and those others located in what is known as the Big Sandy River Valley area. Since the 1980s, Camp #1629 has marked the graves of more than 1,300 Confederate soldiers & veterans, and also maintains several other monument sites which they have erected in southeastern Kentucky.

Below you will find more pictures that I took while visiting the Sandlick Creek Cemetery in July 2015. I'd like to thank all of the members of Camp #1629 for the hard work, time, money, and effort they put in towards honoring our brave boys in gray. I also want to extend a special thanks to Camp #1629's Cmdr. Manton Cornett & Chaplain Lawrence Cook for the extreme kindness and hospitality they showed me when I visited on Thursday, August 18th, 2016. It's an honor to be a part of the SCV knowing men like you are a part of it!

 

DEO VINDICE!

- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Greetings from the Southland!

Greetings friends and compatriots!
I'm posting this blog today from the Appalacian foothills of southeastern Kentucky, not far from the sites of the Battle of Middle Creek, Battle of Ivy Mountain, and the Battle of Pound Gap. I'm vacationing at my property that has been in the family for over 140 years, obtained originally around 1870-71 by my 3rd-great-grandfather, John Bumgardner, who served the Confederate cause in the 6th North Carolina Cavalry (65th State Troops). As I sit here in quiet reflection, I've been pondering on the special summer that I've had. Aside from visiting my Confederate ancestors' respective graves like I have for the past several years, I've also visited some really major sites in Confederate history in Richmond, VA & Lexington, VA, plus I made my first trip to Johnson's Island Confederate Stockade Cemetery back in May.

As I think about these things, I also think about how much more special these places are to me as someone who did not grow up around such history like so many of my fellow compatriots in the South do. I wouldn't dare say that visiting such places is like "old hat" to them, but how much more of a treat must these places be to visit by someone who can't just hop in the car and drive there & back home in a single afternoon?

Also, unlike so many of my SCV brothers and sisters, I did not grow up with stories of my ancestors' respective service in the war. It was not something I grew up in the shadow of like those who live in the south. Still, something deep within me led me to chase these people and their stories down, study them, absorb them, and fight for their deserved honor.

This is the case for many of us in SCV camps located up in the north. Field trips to places of southern inspiration are not usually feasable to take. We, more than most, must push ourselves to recommittment to keep the charge and stick with The Cause. Many of our efforts will often seem fruitless, but I can assure you they are not. For our brothers in the South who are dealing with these heritage violations directly, it strengthens them and encourages them to know that we are here in the far reaches of Yankee territory doing all we can to fight these cultural battles and to keep the charge. It also must be dishartening for those who seek to bulldoze our monuments and indoctrinate our future genereations with lies about this honorable heritage to see support for the Confederacy so far north of the Mason-Dixon.

No matter where we were born or where we live, we have a responsibility as living heirs of the Confederate soldiers to stand firm, push back, and assist our brothers in the Southern states however we can.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

I Hate to Say 'I Told Ya So,' but...

Hello friends & Compatriots!

By now you've almost certainly heard about the latest flag controversy, this time over the Gadsden flag. If you're unfamiliar with the term, it's a flag that originated during the 1st War of American Independence. It's a yellow flag with a depiction of a coiled rattlesnake and the words "DON'T TREAD ON ME" written underneath.

Apparently, somebody filed a complaint in 2014 with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about a co-worker wearing a hat with a depiction of the Gadsden flag, saying that it was racially offensive. The EEOC recently said in a statement that "whatever the historic origins and meaning of the symbol, it also has since been sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts,” and that "in light of the ambiguity in the current meaning of this symbol, we find that Complainant’s claim must be investigated to determine the specific context in which [the coworker] displayed the symbol in the workplace."

When this blog first started one year ago we were just entering the new era of Confederaphobia. At that time so many of us warned that the war on Confederate flags & symbols would only be a first step in this war on American culture, and that it would not stop there.

In one of the earliest blogs posted on this page, I wrote that "[t]he movement now underway to remove [the Confederate] flag, dishonor the brave soldiers that served under it, and disrespect the 70-million descendants of Confederate veterans is rooted in the same demonic cesspool as the movements in this nation to slander historical figures & traditional symbols of America..."

Using the allegations of racism, and in our current culture of political correctness, it seems that anything could be construed as racist. Instead of laughing at the ridiculousness of the claim and throwing it out, as should have been done, this federal commission is giving legitimacy to the most ludicrous of claimed offenses, and thus setting a precedent for even more of this nonsense to follow.

Many folks, including some good and well intentioned people, were suckered into joining the chorus of voices calling for the public banishment of Confederate flags and symbols in the last year. Some of those people would have encouraged us to replace our "rebel flags" with those of "the original American rebellion against tyranny." Now they are finding out that we what we were saying all along is true.

I call on all Americans who love freedom and the historical symbols under which it has been defended to stand with the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the defense of Confederate flags & symbols! If the politically correct myth makers fail at changing perceptions of our symbol they'll have less of an incentive to go after yours!

A QUICK REMINDER: SCV Membership dues were up on August 1st. If you haven't paid your HQ and camp dues yet, you only have so much time before the grace period ends, so please renew your membership as soon as you can.

Also, a meeting for Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 has been scheduled for October 8th! Camp members, please save the date and watch for emails for further information about the meeting.

Before I close, I apologize for the lack of updates recently, but they'll pick up again soon. To help keep up with updates as I post them, I've added a subscription bar, which you can find over on the right side of the page. Just type in your email, submit it, and then follow the instructions to confirm your subscription.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Imagine...

John Lennon had a popular hit song that shares a title with this blog entry. His song asked folks to envision his idea of global utopia that is impossible to achieve (and not entirely desirable).

This is not about that. Instead, I'd like you to imagine the following two scenarios. One is a fact based story, and the other is quickly becoming one. First...

Imagine that you're a 30 year-old poor white farmer living in the south during 1860-1861. You have a large number of family & friends who live around you, and everyone works together to farm the land and eek out an existence. You're too poor to own slaves, and, unlike the slaves, you have no one else to keep a roof over your head, food on your table, or to care for you in any other way except yourself, your 2-months-pregnant wife, and 4 kids (ranging from ages 12 to 1.5).

One day you hear of a commotion in the town, and go out to learn that the President of the United States is raising up an Army to invade the recently seceded Southern states, one of which you live within! In order to protect your family & what very little property you own, you're being asked to sign up to fight in the military defense of your state.

Then, try to conceive of what it would have been like to have been on battlefield after battlefield, see your friends bleed to death, watch people get cut in half by the shot of a cannon, and all of the gruesome & gory aspects of war in the 1860s. 

After a few years of this, you receive a letter from your little wife at home... she says that they're getting by, but it's been hard since the Union troops took over town three months ago. They come and go through the homes of private citizens as they please, taking for themselves most of the good food anybody might have stored up. The baby girl born after going off to war is now a little more than two years old, but is sick, and the Union troops "requisitioned" what little medicine they found in the house; without it, all she's got is a prayer. Your other daughter, now almost 15, was out picking berries when the Union army rolled into town, and being the first pretty girl some had seen recently, was lured by a group of the men into a sexual assault. When she came home, your wife says she knew instantly what had happened, but dared not say a word about it for fear of their home being burned down as had happened to some of their neighbors. The 4 boys were doing well, but hard to keep in line at times, and she fears one will say the wrong thing to some Union soldier and face who knows what repercussions. Despite all of this, she begs you to fight on, not to desert, and not to get killed, and do all in your power to help Gen. Lee win this terrible war.

Finally, imagine journeying back home a few days after learning that General Lee had surrendered you. Defeated in war, and broken in heart, mind, body, & soul, you drag yourself back to the town you left to protect and hope to go back to some resemblance of normal life. As you travel you see nothing but war-torn land, and war-weary people. Finally you approach your home, and see three rock tombstones in the yard where none had been before, the names of your two daughters and oldest son hand-carved into the stones. You pass out from the combination of exhaustion & shock, and awake to learn that the baby had died shortly after you got your last letter, your oldest daughter killed herself over the shame of being raped by Union soldiers, and your oldest boy, aged 15, had been shot just days ago after stabbing one of the men who claimed to have violated his dead older sister.

This is what you went to war to stop... your dead children and traumatized wife & sons are the ones you went to war to protect... and this is the result of the Northern Army's invasion into the South in their conquest to keep the tariffs (taxes) on Southern businesses and ports pouring money into the U.S. treasury.

These are the men and the families for whom old veterans of the gray & their wives, widows, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, nieces & nephews, etc. raised up flags and monuments to honor. Selfishly too many have made these things about themselves or their post-war agendas, both the racists and the pseudo civil-rights groups alike, but these things have nothing to do with racism, slavery, Jim Crow, etc.  These monuments stand and flags fly in honor of honorable soldiers & their families. Only the hateful, the ignorant, and/or the intolerant people of the modern day think otherwise.

After thinking about that for a moment, then imagine the following scenario.

In 2016, a monument is erected on the courthouse lawn of Anytown, USA to honor the heroes of our nation who served in the first Gulf War.

Now imagine that 150 years later Anytown has become a predominantly Muslim community, and for 15 decades more & more people start believing that the Gulf War and Middle-East wars that followed in the early 2000s were about subjecting the Arab/Muslim world under the thumb of the U.S. simply for control of that region's oil.

How does the idea sit with you that monuments built to honor the sacrifices of men & women we currently know, love, and consider heroes for their military service might be vandalized, knocked down, or moved out of public sight because the people in Anytown, USA might consider our heroes to be evil & offensive in the year 2166?

That is exactly what is happening across the south with Confederate flags and monuments in the public square, which are essentially no different than tombstones. They were erected by people who lost loved ones... fathers, sons, husbands, uncles, nephews & cousins... many of them never making it back home.

They were paid for by donations from surviving veterans, survivors of the fallen, & friends, with some contributions being large, but most probably being very small; sometimes all folks could give were pennies at a time, and they did so while struggling to put food upon their tables.

They were erected in the most public of places to be sure that their brave loved-ones would never be forgotten.

This monument, and others like it, are incredible symbols of love, not hate.

Those who engage in, support, or contribute to the removal of such monuments are the one's filled with hate, and no better than those who would desecrate a gravesite. There is no good in such people.

These are just some thoughts I leave here for you to ponder as the media fills your mind with half-truths & total lies.

DEO VINDICE!
-Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

U.S. Gov't Recognition of the Confederate Veteran

So often, as I read the news articles, letters to the editors, and web comments on both, I see so many using the foulest terms to describe our Confederate ancestors. Among those terms, though certainly not the worst, are "traitor" & "criminal." This, however, was not the sentiment of most Union veterans after the war, and only most divisive politicians held that opinion.

It must be realized that no matter what charges were ever brought against any Confederate soldiers, sailors, officers or government officials, only one was ever tried & convicted of treason (Capt. Henry Wirz - the commanding officer at "Andersonville" Prison), and that was done on trumped up charges & false testimony in a "kangaroo court."

Many will say that we need to "restore the honor" for our brave Confederate heroes, but what has never been diminished needs not to be restored. Instead, we need to RECOGNIZE THE HONOR, and educate others of why the honor is worthy of recognition. 

Through a process that took a century, give or take, our reunited country took action to recognize & properly honor the Confederate veterans as American veterans worthy of honor. Below is a timeline that I have put together that shows the process. Pay close attention to the words of U.S. President Carter at the end...

[April 1865]
The close of major military action in the War Between the States

[May 29, 1865]
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 134: U.S. President Andrew Johnson grants amnesty to most regular Confederate soldiers.

[July 4, 1868]
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 170: Pres. Johnson grants pardon to all persons participating in the "late rebellion," with the exception to those under indictment for treason or other felonies.

[July 9, 1868]
14th AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION: Section 3 of the Amendment prohibits the election or appointment to any federal or state office of any person who had held any of certain offices and then were accused of engaging in insurrection, rebellion, or treason; this is the only punishment ever given to the select few Confederate officials not pardoned through Pres. Andrew Johnson's earlier proclamations.

[December 25, 1868]
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 179: President Johnson grants full pardon & amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States during the War Between the States. This does not, however, nullify Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

[April - August 1898]
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: Thousands of Americans of Confederate heritage come together with their Northern brethren to serve their reunited country in military action. Among the thousands of Southerners who served in the United States military during that conflict were the following four Confederate officers...

- Matthew C. Butler
(A Colonel in the Confederate Army; a Major General for the U.S. Volunteer Troops in the Span-Am War.)

- Fitzhugh Lee
(Maj.Gen. in the Confederate Army; Maj.Gen. for the U.S. Volunteer Troops in the Span-Am War. Also, a nephew of Gen. Robert E Lee.)

- Thomas L. Rosser
(Maj.Gen. in the Confederate Army; Maj.Gen. for the U.S. Volunteer Troops in the Span-Am War. Also, a nephew of Gen. Robert E Lee.)

- Joe Wheeler
(Lt.Gen. in the Confederate Army; Maj.Gen. for the U.S. Volunteer Troops in the Span-Am War.)

[December 1898]
In a speech, President Wm. McKinley urges complete reconciliation between Northern & Southern U.S. citizens. Pres. McKinley said, in part, that "every soldier's grave made during our unfortunate civil war is a tribute to American valor... and now the time has come... when, in the spirit of fraternity, we should share in the care of the graves of the Confederate soldiers... The cordial feeling now happily existing between the North and South prompts this gracious act, and if it need further justification, it is found in the gallant loyalty to the Union and the flag so conspicuously shown in the year just passed by the sons and grandsons of those heroic dead."

[June 6, 1900]
CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, FISCAL YEAR 1901: Congress magnanimously passes the bill, which appropriates $2,500 to enable the Secretary of War "to have reburied in some suitable spot in the national cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, and to place proper headstones at the their graves the bodies of about 128 Confederate soldiers now buried in the National Soldiers Home near Washington, D.C., and the bodies of about 136 Confederate soldiers now buried in the national cemetery at Arlington, Virginia."

[March 9, 1906]
CONGRESSIONAL ACT - P.L. 38, 59TH CONGRESS, CHAP. 631-34, STAT. 56: Congress authorizes the furnishing of headstones for the graves of Confederate veterans, particularly those who died in Union prison camps and were buried in federal cemeteries.

[January 21, 1907]
The U.S. War Department establishes the Civil War Campaign Medal. Authorization for it's creation was given by Congress in 1905, and it was intended for veterans of both the Union and Confederate armies. A corresponding naval award, the Navy Civil War Medal, was established on June 27, 1908, by the U.S. Navy Department.

[February 26, 1929]
U.S. PUBLIC LAW 810: Approved by Congress, this law expanded upon what began in the aforementioned 1906 legislation, authorizing the Secretary of War "to erect headstones over the graves of soldiers who served in the Confederate Army, and to direct him to preserve in the records of the War Department the names and places of burial of all soldiers for whom such headstones have been erected." This legislation broadened the scope of recognition for Confederate veterans, allowing for them to receive burial benefits equivalent to those granted for Union Army veterans, providing the use of government (public) funds for the marking and recording of Confederate graves. This law is still on the books as 38 U.S. Code, Sec. 2306, which reads, in part: "The Secretary shall furnish, when requested, appropriate Government headstones or markers at the expense of the United States for the unmarked graves of... Soldiers of the Union and Confederate Armies of the Civil War."

[May 27, 1958]
U.S. PUBLIC LAW 85-425: SEC. 410: Passed by Congress, the law states: "The Administrator shall pay to each person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have been applicable to such person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, if his service in such forces had been service in the military or naval service of the United States." This act, combined with all of those previously stated, effectively placed the Confederate veteran on equal legal footing with those who served in the Union Army. Because of this, there have been children of Confederate veterans collecting pension benefits right up to our current decade, earned through their respective fathers' service in the Confederate military, equal to those collected by the surviving children of Union veterans.

Aside from these, there are two other notable, noble acts of the United States government that should also be remembered.

[August 5, 1975]
Pres. Gerald R. Ford signs into law a joint congressional resolution (passed June 13, 1975) restoring full citizenship to Gen. Robert E. Lee, after the 1970 discovery of documents in the archives proving that he had filed all of the necessary paperwork for it. The resolution declared that "the legal disabilities placed upon General Lee as a result of his service as General of the Army of Northern Virginia are removed, and that General R. E. Lee is posthumously restored to the full rights of citizenship." At the signing of the resolution, Pres. Ford stated, "[a]s a soldier, General Lee left his mark on military strategy. As a man, he stood as the symbol of valor and of duty. As an educator, he appealed to reason and learning to achieve understanding and to build a stronger nation... General Lee's character has been an example to succeeding generations, making the restoration of his citizenship an event in which every American can take pride."

[October 17, 1978]
Pres. James E. Carter signs into law a joint congressional resolution (passed October 3, 1978) restoring full citizenship to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis never sought or received pardon for the crimes of which he was accused, as he was never convicted of any during his lifetime. Because he did not seek such a pardon or take an oath of amnesty or allegiance to the United States after the war, he died a man without a country. At the signing of this act, Pres. Carter said, "[i]n posthumously restoring the full rights of citizenship to Jefferson Davis, the Congress officially completes the long process of reconciliation that has reunited our people following the tragic conflict between the States. ... He had served the United States long and honorably as a soldier, Member of the U.S. House and Senate, and as Secretary of War. General Robert E. Lee's citizenship was restored in 1976. It is fitting that Jefferson Davis should no longer be singled out for punishment." "Our Nation needs to clear away the guilts and enmities and recriminations of the past, to finally set at rest the divisions that threatened to destroy our Nation and to discredit the principles on which it was founded. Our people need to turn their attention to the important tasks that still lie before us in establishing those principles for all people."

There are currently efforts underway to undo all of the progress & healing that the above efforts achieved, by those who seek to rip open 150 year-old scars for the purpose of agitating & dividing we, the people, for their own personal gain. WE MUST NOT PERMIT THAT TO HAPPEN. The veterans themselves are gone, and it is our duty to keep fighting the fight in the war of ideas to make sure that the recognition of honor that our ancestors rightfully attained in devoted service to their country is NEVER taken from them.

DEO VINDICE!
-Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Hot Days, Sunshine, Flags Flyin'... It's Summertime!

Greetings y'all! I hope you're enjoying the warmth that summer brings upon us. Even up here deep in Yankee territory, it's the perfect time of the year for us to have our flags flying high for all to see! While most people include the words "summer" and "vacation" together, summer can often be one of the busiest times of the year. Even vacation has a sort of business to it as we get ready and make plans for our trips.

Pres. Jefferson Davis Birthday Picnic, SCV Camp 1321

Summer time has already been busy for those of us in Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321, as we held our biggest and most important election recently at our annual President Jefferson Davis Birthday Picnic & Meeting. Never before has our Camp had so many enthusiastic members requesting nominations to elected office, and for that we are extremely grateful.

The following men were elected to hold office in the Camp for the next two years, beginning their terms on August 1st...

COMMANDER

Darron Williams

1st LIEUTENANT  COMMANDER

George Calder

2nd LIEUTENANT COMMANDER

Jonathan McCleese

ADJUTANT

Frank Peters

TREASURER

Jonathan McCleese

JUDGE ADVOCATE

Zachary Welch

QUARTERMASTER

Montie Ocha

SURGEON

Rev. Bernard Maynard

CHAPLAIN

Rev. Danny Slater

COLOR SERGEANT

Steven Panther

I'd like to say that as one of those elected, it was a great honor to be chosen for higher service in the camp, and congratulations to all of the others who were elected to serve for the next two years.

Before I close, I'd like to remind all camp members that your annual membership dues are currently being collected. If you're a member of the camp and have not yet done so, please mail in your dues before August 1st. If you have any questions about your dues, contact our Camp Adjutant, Frank Peters, for more information at the following address:   scv_semmes_1321@yahoo.com

DEO VINDICE!

- Jonathan McCleese

Sergeant-at-Arms

Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)

Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Faith & The Flag: An Open Letter to My Christian Family

This blog post will be a little different today. I operate this blog on behalf of both Michigan SCV Camps at the request of both Camp Commanders (Cmdr. White of Camp #1321 and Cmdr. Perkins of Camp #2257), and being that this blog represents the camps, I do my very best to keep the postings on message and not to talk much about myself. Unfortunately, recent events with a large Christian denomination in our nation have compelled me to share my story of how I came to join the SCV. The SCV is not a religion or religious organization, but the SCV does recognize the Judaeo-Christian foundations of our nation and of the nation our Southern ancestors sought to build. The following is not an endorsement, from either Michigan camp or the SCV organization, of any religion or faith teaching. It is simply my story... a testimony of sorts.

When I was boy, growing up in the southeastern suburbs of Detroit, there were certain symbols that fascinated me, whether they were those of iconic fictional characters (like the Batman logo), sports teams (the 1980s Detroit Tigers emblem), or religion (like the Celtic cross). One such symbol that always seemed to captivate me was that one red flag with a big blue 'X' containing 13 white stars.

As a kid I saw it, probably for the first time on 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' and I just thought it looked awesome! I've found that most children feel the same way until they've been conditioned to think otherwise. I'm not sure at what point in life it was, but somewhere along the way I learned that it had something to do with the southern United States. I'm certain that it was in school that I learned it was a flag related to the "rebel" Confederate States of America during the War Between The States, but by the time of my childhood in the mid-1980s it had taken on the meaning of "southern pride." Living in the suburbs of Detroit, there were a lot of people with southern roots. In the glory days of "the big three" automobile manufacturers, many folks migrated from the poverty stricken, rural areas of Appalachia to the Metro-Detroit area in search of a good paying job. Despite the change in scenery, most of those folks held tight to their southern roots, and took pride in where they came from. One way they could publicly express this sentiment was by displaying their "rebel flag."

Sometime after I'd gotten into high-school, we once again had lessons about the War Between The States. It was at this time that I started wondering if I had ancestors that served in that war. My family was from the south (both of my parents were born & raised in KY) and I assumed that I probably had at least one that did. To find out about this I had to start doing my family tree, and eventually I learned that I had an ancestor who served in the 6th North Carolina Cavalry regiment... for the Confederacy! I was so excited! I now had a personal connection to that really awesome flag that I'd grown up loving to see!

It was not until my sophomore or junior year of high school (around the year 2000) when I first heard of any supposed connection between the Confederate flag & racism. I was on the yearbook committee, and I was publicly shamed by a teacher for suggesting a yearbook cover design that featured the American flag & the CSA Battle Flag. She feigned appall that I would suggest such a cover design! Of course I knew that it has been used at times by the Klan and other racial hate groups, but so were/are the Cross and the U.S. Flag, and I know that they aren't really racist symbols either.

While being a Southron by blood, I'm chiefly a born-again follower of Jesus. I gave my heart to Christ and started serving Him around the age of 5, and what bothered me more than being publicly shamed over the flag was the thought that I might be dishonoring God by my display of it. I decided then that I needed to further look into the history of the Confederate States of America, the Confederate soldiers, and the use of that flag after the War Between The States. What I learned in the intense study that followed (which continues to this day) has shaped my understanding of that flag. Over the last 16 years, I've prayed countless times over the matter, and asked God to show me if I was wrong to display it. I never once felt as though God was saying to stop.

About four years ago I began looking into joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I spent that time investigating the organization to make sure that being a part of it would not be a conflict of interest in my service to Christ. I spoke with others, followers of Christ, who didn't care one way or another about that flag, whether they thought it was a bad idea and asked them to also pray that God would guide me. I never received any counsel or inclination through it all suggesting that I should not do it. So with assurance in my heart, mind, and soul that it was not improper for me to do so, I joined the SCV last May, and got my membership certificate one week before last June's tragedy in Charleston.

I believe that God was aware that the sad incident in Charleston last summer was going to happen all those years ago when I started praying about joining the SCV, and I believe that He also knew this flag issue was going to blow up on the scale that it has. Why did He not warn me, or give me any inclination if the Confederate flag was something I shouldn't be for? Why did He not, in the last four years, steer me away from joining the SCV if joining an organization that promotes the display of that flag would be in conflict with honoring Him?

I have said all of this to hopefully show that my position regarding the CSA Battle Flag is not one that was taken without years & years of study & prayer. You might have read all of that and come to a conclusion that I ignored or overlooked God's guidance at some point in time. You'll then have to decide whether it is really your place to make such a judgement regarding me & my relationship with Christ.

The movement now underway to remove that flag (and other symbols of the Confederacy) dishonors the brave soldiers that served under it (many of them being our Christian brothers), and disrespects the 70-million living descendants of Confederate veterans (many of whom hold that flag dear). This anti-Confederate movement is rooted in the same demonic cesspool as the movements in this nation to slander historical figures & traditional symbols of America, and also those of Christianity.

It would be impossible for me to type out with words how passionately I detest racism, discrimination, oppression, and bigotry & any group or organization that would seek to promote such things. My display of Confederate symbols is not intended to promote any of that or offend anyone; I only seek to properly & passionately honor my veteran ancestors.

I believe that the well intentioned Christians standing with those calling for this destruction of Southern heritage are only helping those currently involved in creating even more racial, social, and political division in a nation that is currently on the path to prove that "divided we fall." Some fellow believers have used a particular verse of Scripture (Romans 14:13) as their justification for denouncing the flag & symbols of the Confederacy, but the real "stumbling block" that has been set out ahead of us is the hateful lie that the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism which is to be reviled. Sadly, this is the myth that is now being perpetuated by so many who claim to follow Christ.

I do not believe that Christ has called us at any point to compromise truth for lies, or love for hate. To do so for any reason would dishonor God. Hate & lies do nothing to further His cause (which is the cause I am chiefly devoted to) and are in direct opposition to the Gospel.

There is no stopping anyone that wants to hijack a symbol for hateful use, but it is another problem when we give in to the hate & lies, either by becoming hateful or letting them set the narrative. I refuse to let the hate & lies win on either front. I believe that it is my duty to not let groups like the KKK, NAACP, or even the Southern Baptist Convention redefine Confederate symbols for their own hateful and/or political purposes.

So in the interest of honoring Christ, by standing up for truth & standing against hate, I will keep flying the Confederate Battle Flag and encourage others to do so. Maybe you're a fellow believer, yet you disagree with me about the flag. If so, I will pray for you, and I ask that you will also pray for me. Not one of us is perfect or has perfect understanding, but I have faith that God's grace is sufficient for us, and that He will lead us through the Holy Spirit if we are willing to be obedient.

 Yours in the Bonds of the Old South & Christian Fellowship,
- Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

A Special Message from SCV CiC Barrow Re: the Southern Baptist Convention's Heritage Violation

[The following is a statement from Charles Kelly Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, regarding the Southern Baptist Convention's passing of a resolution to disavow the Confederate Flag. - SAA. McCleese]

The history of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has been inextricably tied to the Confederacy and her heirs for over a century and a half. Great pulpit expositors, as well as seminary professors that left their mark in the area of Biblical thought and world view offered service to the Confederacy, as chaplains and men of arms, as well. Therefore, it was a profound disappointment and excruciatingly disheartening to hear the anti-Confederate Battle Flag resolution that was approved by SBC messengers meeting in St. Louis on June 14.

The resolution offended on several levels -- first of all, simply put, it did not adequately deal with the Truth of the nature of the Flag, particularly disappointing as Christians should place a premium on the Truth. The 800,000 men that served the Confederacy held, and always will hold, full title to that banner -- it is a soldiers' flag and their political agenda was nothing more than defense of their home. Furthermore, as the Fifth Commandment compels us to "honor father and mother", those of us who enjoy Confederate ancestry are bound to tell the Truth of our ancestors fight and flag. Finally, the tone of the resolution has the effect of intimidating the consciences of Southern Baptists into holding a terribly negative opinion of Confederate symbols.

All that said, the SBC is not a hierarchy; local congregations are in no way bound to the resolution. They may continue on as they have done, in some cases, for many years, in helping their community to retain its history and honoring the men that rebuilt their community after a tragic war and devastating reconstruction. Today, we call upon the great SBC congregations throughout the South to do just that, ignore this distraction and get on with the priorities of Gospel proclamation, building up of the fellowship of Faith and pursuing a witness of goodwill in the community. Untold numbers of these SBC churches, over the years, have cultivated great relationships with SCV camps by opening their facilities for regular meetings and special occasions, not to mention the cemeteries owned by SBC churches where the remains of legions of Confederate heroes lie -- these are sites for numerous memorial services.

Of course, in addition to the historical ties of the Confederacy and SBC, thousands of SCV members are also members of SBC churches. In closing, we call on our camps to pursue"peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14) by cultivating good relationships with all organizations in their community, particularly houses of worship, be they SBC, other Christian denominations or Jewish Synagogues.

Deo Vindice!

Charles Kelly Barrow

Commander-in-Chief

Sons of Confederate Veterans

@scvcic

Camp #1321 News: Cmdr. White Stepping Down After 25+ Years

Last Monday (May 30, 2016), at the Johnson's Island Memorial Day event, Cmdr. Stanley T. White announced publicly that he will not be seeking reelection after serving as Camp #1321's leader for more than a quarter century. His tenure at the camp's helm will end at 12:00 a.m. on August 1st, which is when officers to be elected at the June 18th meeting will officially take office.

It was in 1988 when White, then Commander of the Sgt. B.F. Foley Camp #1448, began working to reactivate the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI) after a six-year period of inactivity. With a zeal & level of commitment reminiscent of that possessed by Cmdr. Jerry Moore (Camp #1321's founder & 1st Commander), Cmdr. White has worked tirelessly to keep the SCV's presence in the Great Lakes State going for nearly three decades.

Cmdr. White has never been one to take much credit for all that he's done, always giving credit to the camp. Besides serving as Commander for Foley Camp #1448 (prior to 1989) & Semmes Camp #1321 (since 1989), Cmdr. White has also previously served as 2nd Lieutenant Commander for the Army of Tennessee.

It has been said to me by many that Cmdr. White has been the face of the SCV in the state of Michigan for more than a quarter century. It is highly likely that had it not been for his efforts, the SCV would not currently have a presence in this state. We are blessed to know that once his tenure ends as Camp Commander he will still remain a member of the camp and will serve on the camp's Executive Committee as a Past-Commander of the camp.

More will certainly be written here about our long-time leader between now and August 1st. It is this author's hope that all members of Camp #1321 will make it out to our June 18th meeting & picnic to join Cmdr. Stanley White at his last meeting as Commander of Camp #1321.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Memorial Day 2016 @ Johnson's Island

On Monday, May 30, 2016, the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI) commemorated Memorial Day at the Confederate Stockade Cemetery on Johnson's Island in Marblehead, OH. Nine camp members made the trip down, and counting members' family & friends, about 30 of us were in attendance to honor the nearly 300 Confederate soldiers & officers who are buried therein.

Following our arrival between 9:30 - 10:00 AM, flags were placed at all of the 206 marked graves, as well as at the Confederate Cross of Honor commemorating all Confederate soldiers buried there, the two memorial markers honoring ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and next to the two modern monuments that list the names of all who are believed to be interred there. Prior to our arrival, flags had already been placed next to "The Lookout" monument, and those were left in place out of respect to whoever had placed there.

Shortly after the placement of the flags, a memorial service was held.
The order of the ceremony was as follows:

Welcome & Opening Remarks - Cmdr. Stanley White
Opening Prayer (The Lord's Prayer) - SAA. Jonathan McCleese
Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag - 2nd Lt.Cmdr. George Calder
Salute to the Confederate Flag - 1st Lt.Cmdr. Darron Williams
Singing of "Dixie" - SAA. McCleese
Placement of Officer's Jacket at "The Lookout" Monument
Poem ("Only a Soldier's Grave") - Cmdr. White
Memorial Address & Closing Prayer - SAA. Jonathan McCleese

Compatriot Welch, SAA. McCleese, Cmdr. White, & Compatriot T. Watson

After the conclusion of the service, members of the Camp remained at the cemetery throughout the early afternoon, paying our personal respects to our brave heroes and talking with members of the public who stopped by throughout the day to pay their respects. Visitors included residents of the island & tourists, all of whom were very appreciative of the Camp's efforts to honor the brave men buried there. One island resident said that she'd never seen the cemetery decorated so nicely.

To all of the compatriots, their family members & friends, and all of the visitors who came to pay their respects on Monday - THANK YOU! I also would like to give special thanks to the Johnson's Island Property Owners Association for their kindness to the Camp. 

1Lt.Cmdr. Williams, Cmdr. White, Compatriot Welch, & SAA. McCleese

Below are some more images from our day at Johnson's Island. I want to thank compatriots Steve Panther, Travis Watson, & Zach Welch for donating some of their photos to the Camp Archives and for granting their permission to share them here.

SAA. McCleese placing the Confederate Naval Officer's Jacket at "The Lookout" monument.

Compatriot Travis Watson as he pays his respects to the fallen POWs.

The inscription on the side of "The Lookout" monument's granite base.

Compatriot Zach Welch

Cmdr. Stan White & his lovely wife

Compatriot Steve Panther

Cmdr. Stan White exits the cemetery.   Cmdr. White has been leading Confederate Memorial services here at Johnson's Island for more than a quarter-century.

A Heavenly scene looking out from the cemetery toward the waters of Lake Erie.