Forrest’s
Dispatch
General Nathan Bedford Forrest Sons of Confederate Veterans, Rome, Ga.
Camp 469 Newsletter – February, 2005
NEXT MEETING
The next camp meeting will be held Thursday, February 3, 2005 at the library beginning at 7 p.m.
Past Commander Mike Ragland will give a stirring talk on the train trip General Robert E. Lee took from Richmond, VA to Savannah.
LAST ROLL CALL
Please remember the families of camp members John Chandler and Ed Byars in your prayers. John passed away January 2nd and Ed on the 18th of January.
RELIC SHOW
The camp will participate in the Civil War relic show in Dalton in February. Show dates are Feb. 5th and 6th. Volunteers are needed to help staff the table during the event.
A haversack filled with goodies will be given away to some lucky confederate in a drawing at the show.
This show is one of the biggest in the southeast attracting over 400 vendors. Be sure to attend.
CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAIL
Thanks to efforts from several camp members, Rome will soon be added to the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trail (www.gcwht.org). The trail interprets the Civil War along historic routes allowing visitors to experience the war for themselves via interpretive markers.
Two interpretive kiosk's will be placed in Rome. One at Ft. Norton and the other site is still to be determined.
FLAG VOTE
A recent communication from Jack Bridwell, Commander of the Georgia Division of the SCV is urging all camp members and their families to contact their local representative asking that they support House Bill 15.
HB15 gives Georgia citizens a fair flag vote and a choice between the 1956 flag and the recently adopted flag of 2003.
Addition information can be obtained by logging on to: [www.letgeorgiavote.com]
FORMER CAMP COMMANDER REMEMBERED
Wallace 'Ed' Byars, former Camp 469 Commander and charter member, passed away January 18, 2005 following an extended illness at the age of 63. Ed was a very active member of the community and served as camp commander for the 1991 – 1992 term.
Ed was a member of the Cherokee Artillery and creator for the "Siege of Rome." He served as Chief of Artillery for several terms of the Georgia Division of Re-enactors as well as Field Commander of the Cherokee Artillery.
In addition to his interest in the Civil War, Ed was an avid collector of Indian artifacts and local historian. He was a founding member of the Rome Area History Museum and one of the earliest proponents of conserving Fort Norton and a founding member of the Roman Legion.
Camp 469 and the community of Rome will truly miss Ed and the many contributions that he made to make this a better place to live. Future generations will continue to be served by the projects he was instrumental in developing.
May God bless Ed and his family.