Forrest’s Dispatch
General Nathan Bedford Forrest Sons of Confederate Veterans, Rome, GA.
Camp 469 Newsletter – April, 2009
“A Historical Education & Preservation Organization”
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the General Nathan B. Forrest SCV Camp 469 will be held on Thursday April 2, 2009 at the Sara Hightower Library in Rome . The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.
Our guest speaker will be Mr. Phil Wood, Assistant Principle at East Central Elementary and former history teacher at Rome High. Mr. Wood will speak on the Battle of Franklin, known as the “ Gettysburg of the Western Theater”.
EXECUTIVE and MEMORIAL / HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING
The EC and Memorial /Heritage Committee will meet at 6:00 pm prior to the general camp meeting at the library. Last month we laid the groundwork for several upcoming Memorial Services and the donation of the book Company Aytch to area schools.
CIVIL WAR PRESERVATION TRUST PARK DAY
SCV Camp 469 will host for the second year the CWPT Park Day on April 4th at Myrtle Hill Cemetery . Once again we will be cleaning Confederate headstones with the assistance of the Rome High Honor Society and a local Bear Scout Troop. This is an excellent opportunity for the camp to teach southern Civil War history to the younger generation.
All camp members are encouraged to participate in this event. Please bring a bucket / pail and a soft bristle brush to clean with. All volunteers are asked to be at Myrtle Hill Cemetery starting at 8:30 in the morning. The cleanup will begin with a “Living History” presentation at 9:00 am and end around 12 noon. All volunteers will receive either a CWPT T-shirt or patch for their efforts. Rain date is April 11th.
GENERAL NATHAN B. FORREST MONUMENT REDEDICATION
The Emma Sansom Chapter of the UDC will re-dedicate the General N.B. Forrest Monument at Veterans Plaza on its’ 100th Anniversary Saturday April 18th at 2:00 pm. All camp members are encouraged to attend and support the UDC.
RIDE FOR YOUR PRIDE FUND RAISER
SCV Camp 469 will host the Ride for Your Pride Poker Run on Saturday April 25th beginning and ending at Pan Head City . The event will begin at 8:00 am and end around 12 noon. We will need 10 volunteers for this major camp fund raising event. Cost is $25 per bike and $5 per passenger. Please help get the word out! 2nd Lt. Commander John Harrison and Color Sgt. Brian Byrd are coordinating this event.
SCV CAMP 469 CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL SERVICE
We will conduct our annual Confederate Memorial Service on Sunday, April 26th at 3:00 pm at Myrtle Hill Cemetery . The 8th Regiment Band is scheduled to perform.
CAPT. WILLIAM WALTERS MEMORIAL SERVICE
SCV Camp 469 is honored to conduct, for the family of Carol Walters, a Confederate Memorial Service for Capt. William H. Walters, Co. H, 18th GA Inf. The service will take place on May 2nd at 2:00 pm at the Pisgah Baptist Church in Coosa . During the service by the SCV, the Cherokee Artillery will present a cannon salute and Co. A, , Floyd Legion will present an Honor Guard. Period dress is requested and refreshments will be served.
COMMANDERS COLUMN
I just wanted to say thanks to those who participated in the road side cleanup and yard sale over the past several weeks. Several members contributed to the yard sale pile which helped fill up the tables. We didn’t make much money, but it was good fellowship on a rainy morning.
For those that missed the March meeting, I reminded everyone in attendance that Civil War preservation doesn’t always have to be physical. It can also be intellectual. What we do at each meeting or memorial service is intellectually preserve the memory and activities of our Confederate ancestors. Whenever we take the time to speak to school groups or our children, we are practicing historical preservation. Just the simple act of wearing our camp shirt or t-shirt displaying a Confederate hero we are practicing historical preservation by preserving the memory of those who fought and died for the Confederacy.
Rome has a colorful and fact-filled Civil War history that needs to be told. It is not just about forts and battles. Rome had a huge 1,500 bed hospital located downtown between 3rd and 4th Avenue . It was an important transportation hub with the confluence of the rivers and the W & A Railroad. On several occasions over 15,000 troops were located in Rome prior to the Battle of Chickamauga and during the Federal occupation. These stories and other stories need to be told so that we can paint an accurate picture of life in Rome during the WBTS.
April is Confederate History Month and I want to encourage each of you to participate in the activities of the camp and the UDC. Speak up and speak often about your Confederate ancestor to anyone within earshot.
SCV CAMP 469
NEWSLETTER
76 PLANTATION DR
ROME, GA 30165