Forrest’s Dispatch
General Nathan Bedford Forrest Sons of Confederate Veterans, Rome , GA.
Camp 469 Newsletter – June, 2008
“A Historical Education & Preservation Organization”
NEXT MEETING
The next SCV Camp 469 will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the Sara Hightower Regional Library beginning promptly at 7 pm.
Our guest speaker will be SCV Field Representative, Jack Marlar. Jack will give a presentation on “The Big Guns.” If you heard his presentation on “The Hunley” last year then you know you will not want to miss this meeting.
RECAP OF MAY MEETING
If you missed our last camp meeting in May, then you really missed a treat. Camp members gave short presentations on their Confederate ancestors. There were some very interesting stories told and it was a great reminder of why we gather each month to honor our ancestors. Plans are in the works to do it again in the near future. Thanks to all who participated.
NEW MEMBERS
Please welcome the following new Camp 469 members!
Joe Taormina
Mike Morton
Brian Byrd
James Baughman
Melvin Satterfield
HIGHWAY CLEAN UP
Our next scheduled Adopt – A – Road Cleanup is scheduled for Sunday, June 15th beginning at 2 pm. We will be parking at the convenience store located at the intersection of Hwy 20 and Wood Rd in Coosa . This cleanup session will complete the section of Hwy 20 that Camp 469 has adopted. Please make plans to attend and don’t forget to wear boots and long pants.
RESACA BATTLEFIELD CENTER
It was reported in last months’ newsletter that Governor Sonny Purdue had approved a $3 million dollar bond towards the construction of the Resaca Battlefield Interpretive Center just off Interstate 75 north of Calhoun. This money, combined with last years contribution of $2 million dollars, will insure that the center will be built.
(Calhoun times)… “Resaca has been a priority for the governor, as well as a priority of mine and Rep. John Meadows (Calhoun)” said Rep. Tom Graves of Ranger. He said that Sen. Don Smith ( Dalton ) and Sen. Preston Smith ( Rome ) have also worked at keeping the funding for the project in the budget.
According to Governor Purdue, the proposed visitor center at the battlefield will be a portal to Georgia ’s other Civil War sites as, in 2011, the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE A BIG SUCCESS
Thanks to all of the planning and countless man-hours, the 2008 Rome Memorial Day Parade was a big success. Successful because, for the first time, there were enough volunteers to represent all of the major conflicts our country has been involved in since the Revolutionary War. It was successful because the event ran very smoothly, from the flight of the Flying Tigers, which signaled the beginning of the event, to closing prayer. It was successful because of the dedication and hard work of the parade committee and volunteers who participated in the parade.
Lead by Camp 469’s John Harrison, who was dressed as General George Washington, the parade was witnessed by several hundred citizens of Rome . More importantly, members of the camp received extensive coverage in the local media, either in print or video, as they portrayed our Confederate ancestors. One could even say that the parade and Memorial Day Service was dominated by the presence of approximately 25 Confederate re-enactors and individuals dressed in mid-1860’s clothing. The music for the program was provided by the 8th Regiment Band led by John Carruth. A Confederate honor guard, made up of members of Camp 469 and the Douglasville Camp, fired a salute prior to the playing of taps. It was a Confederate afternoon in Rome .
Thanks to all who participated in period dress or uniform: Brian Byrd, Daniel Fisher, The Lamar and Wendy Fowler Family, Merroll Smith, Jim Dugger, Stan Landers, John Carruth, Neil Brackett, Pat Millican, Rita Smith and her husband, and countless others whom I don’t know their names. And last of all a special thanks to Wayne Scott for serving as event coordinator. Outstanding job!
SCV CAMP 469 NEWSLETTER
76 PLANTATION DR
ROME, GA 30165
Editor: Jim Dugger