Newsletter of Captain Mortimer Jordan
Camp #84, Gardendale Alabama
Alabama Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans
January 2006 Edition Patrick Cumbie: Commander
Albert Snow: Adjutant
The Capt. Mortimer Jordan Camp met at the Gardendale Shoney's Restaurant December 6th 2005 at 7pm. Because of a mix up on the reservations for the meeting room the camp met in the back of the dining area. As Commander Cumbie was absent for the meeting Adj. Snow led the camp in the salute to the Confederate Flag and Salute to the Alabama Flag. After a brief welcome to the guests and members, Adj. Snow briefed those present on the recent actions by the AHC and what the Alabama Division is doing to defend our interest.
No Official business was conducted for this evening to allow our guest speaker the opportunity to have as much time as needed.
Compatriot Downs introduced the guest speaker for the evening. Mr. Bill Sacra. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and retired U.S. Air Force Officer spoke on the history of this storied military school. Centering on the War for Southern Independence, Mr. Sacra spoke extensively on Gen. Thomas Jonathon (Stonewall) Jackson. General Jackson, perhaps the most famous person associated with this school, was an instructor when the war broke out and led the cadets to camp near Richmond to act as instructors to the raw volunteers. Given a Brigade of Infantry, Jackson was instrumental in saving the day for the South at the Battle of First Manassas. All during the war the VMI was heard loud and clear as officers trained at this school took leadership positions in the Confederate Army and were very successful at their commands.
The high point of the VMI came at the Battle of New Market where VMI Cadets, some mere children, shouldered muskets and stood the thin gray line of battle. Participating in the final charge that drove the hated Yankees from the valley, several of their ranks were killed and wounded.
Mr. Bill Sacra and his gracious wife.
Surviving to today this proud institution still produces some of the best military officers our country has to offer. Over a four-year course of extensive training and discipline Rats (the name for new cadets) are turned into fine military leaders. It is a testament to our Southern Tradition that other than West Point, the two best military schools in the country are in the South (VMI and the Citadel).
After a brief Question and Answer session the meeting was closed with the SCV Closing led by Adj. Snow.
The next meeting of the Capt. Mortimer Jordan Camp will be January 3rd, 2006 7pm at the Gardendale Shoney's Restaurant. It is important that everyone attend this meeting.
Coming Events
January 16, 2006 Robert E. Lee Birthday.
Outdoor celebration and raising of the Confederate Flag at the Oneoenta Court House in Blount County 9am. Gun Salute, Guest Speaker. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
REPORT FROM COMMANDER BEN HESTLEY ALABAMA DIV. HERITAGE DEFENSE.
Friends and Compatriots,
At present we are being hit on three fronts: the atrocity at the
Capitol Exhibit, the change of name of the Joe Wheeler State Parkway,
and perhaps the most serious the attempt to revise history at the
Confederate Park Museum.
On November 28th the City of Athens approved the following:
Approved a Resolution for the Mayor to request the Governor's Office and the State Department of Transportation to designate a section of U.S. Highway 72 as Martin Luther King Memorial Highway. This Highway is presently named General Wheeler Parkway.
The NAACP is not satisfied with renaming the highway within the city limits they now want to extend it to the Elk River, outside the city limits.
There are several things we can all do, but I want to address one
of the two responses we need to make about Confederate Memorial Park first.
Confederate Memorial Park was created by a Joint Legislative Resolution
as a ". . . memorial to the Confederate people of Alabama...." The new
museum has been complete and standing empty now three years!
The "Interpretative Script" has been completed for two years. This is
the text of the displays and what the museum will "say" to visitors. This
completed work was reviewed by Dr. George Rable of U of Alabama; Mr. Bob
Bradley of Archives and History; Dr. Cheryl Snedden of Alabama
Historical Commission and numerous other historians on the AHC staff; Bill Rambo,
CMP park director and even some of us "regular" citizens (I was one) were
invited to sit in on a citizens' focus group and make in-put into this
interpretative script. The focus group meeting was chaired by the AHC
paid Black Heritage Council staff person. Members of the BHC were in the
audience and had input just like the 5 Confederates did. We thought this one was
behind us.
