On April 15 and 16 SCV Camp 469 was privileged to participate in the American
Cancer Society fundraiser "Relay for Life". Over 12 Camp members,
including Quartermaster John Harrison, Stan Nix - a member of Cherokee
Artillery, and newsletter editor Jim Dugger, camped out, walked for the cause,
and 'talked up' the SCV.
Late at night, after most of the walkers had long left the walking path, Commander Hugh Durden blows Southern tunes on his 'harp'. As the Camp pulled up stakes Sunday, Commander Durden was told the Camp had raised $386 that went toward helping find a cure for cancer.
Before turning in, Stan, Danny Bunch and Jim discuss strategy for the following
day's battle.
The following week the Camp received news that we had been so well received we not only have been asked back next year, we will also be shooting off the cannon, signifying the start of next year's Relay for Life.
Confederate Memorial Service at Sardis Church
Camp editor Jim Dugger (l) and Camp Commander Hugh Durden (r) look on as Cherokee Artillery member Stan Nix holds out the Floyd Legion colors being held by 1st Lt Commander Tommy Smith
On May 1 SCV Camp 469 performed a Confederate Memorial Service honoring 18 fallen Southern soldiers at the quaint Sardis Church about 10 miles west of Rome.
With Commander Hugh Durden (l) leading the ceremony, Gary Worthan (c) called the roll of the Confederate Veterans as John Harrison rang the bell in remembrance of each fallen Southerner.
Standing the colors during the service were Joe Carver, Commander of the Ellijay Camp (l), Glenn Nix of the Cherokee Artillery (c) and Terry Chadwick of the 28th GA. Inf.
Along with Joe, Glenn and Terry, 1st Lt Commander Tommy Smith (second from right) and Stan Nix (far right) of the Cherokee Artillery honor the 18 fallen Confederate veterans.
A Confederate Memorial service is planned for an ancestor of Tommy's, Pvt Newton Van Pelt of the Sardis Volunteers of the 6th Georgia Cav. Captured near Cedartown, GA after the Battles for Atlanta in late July of 1864, Pvt Van Pelt escaped three times on the way north but was re-captured each time. He died at Camp Douglas in Chicago and is buried there in a mass grave. A stone is to be placed at Sardis in the spring of 2006 in his honor. Two more ancestors of Tommy's, the Bale brothers, also from the Sardis Volunteers of the 6th Ga. Cav. and who were killed at Philadelphia, Tenn. and at Resaca, Ga., are buried side-by-side at Sardis.
All photos courtesy Lindy Dugger