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Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 06:55 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Jennifer-Sawyer

The Civic Center of Anderson was the scene as nearly 1000 members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans came together for their National Reunion July 22-24.    These men are descendants of Confederate soldiers and for 115 years have met in “reunion” as their ancestors did after the War Between the States.  The reunion hosted by SC Division SCV and Past National Commander Ron Wilson was a wonderful event and time of renewing of the southern spirit to defend the cause of the Confederate Soldier and his fight for Southern Independence.

Activities opened on Thursday morning as the Butler Guards of  the SC  SCV Camp #36 of Greenville presented colors led by bagpiper Preston Gravely.  Dignitaries on the podium included National SCV Commander Charles McMichael, SC Commander Mark Simpson who is a member of the McGowan Camp #40 of Laurens, and the Honorable Henry McMaster.   Throughout the three days, members were in business sessions, history sessions, army meetings, and ceremonies.  Throughout the event, the men felt the camaraderie that only those of Confederate lineage can feel.  The desire to “vindicate the cause” for which the Confederate soldier fought was well presented in all aspects of the convention.

SCV---Group

Present at the event were two real sons.  A real son is an actual son of a Confederate soldier.  One of the sons attending was Jim Brown, 98 years old  from TN.  He is a member of Camp #1202 of Tuscon, AZ.   Jim’s father was born in 1840 and entered the War in 1961 at 20 years old.   Jim was born in 1912 when his father was 72.   A few real sons and real daughters are still alive but, obviously, will not be with us for long.

For those who wished to, a tour of Abbeville, seat of the first official secession speeches, was given on Thursday afternoon.  Mr. Robert Hayes of Abbeville conducted the tour of Secession Hill where a marker shows the site of the Secession speech given November 20, 1860.   A tour of the Burt-Stark mansion, where Confederate President Jefferson Davis spent the night and dissolved the cabinet, was given along with a tour of the post-war home of Brigadier General Samuel McGowan.

Vendors were in place in the civic center including a table displaying and offering the sale of pavers for the Monument to the Signers of the Ordinance of  Secession.  This is a SC Division project for which money is being raised by offering the sale of pavers and other items to be placed around the monument as a means of paying for the monument itself.   Interested persons may contact McGowan Camp #40 Commander Robert Roper or go on the SC Division website for further information.

SCV---Cake

One highlight of the reunion was the election of Michael Givens to the position of Commander in Chief of the National SCV.   Givens previously served as Lt. Commander of the organization and is very pro-active in the presentation of the true history of the Southern people and the War Between the States.

On Saturday morning, the Order of Confederate Rose held their National Confederation of States meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Anderson.  Krissy Dunn Johnson, historical curator for the SC Relic Room and Military Museum, was the guest speaker.  Krissy’s talk on her book, No Holier Spot of Ground: SC’s Monuments and Cemeteries brought tears to the eyes of those in attendance at she related the difficulty that towns and associations had during reconstruction and their endurance in seeing that the monuments were put in place to honor the Confederate soldier.

Saturday evening concluded with a Commander in Chief reception, a dinner, swearing in of new officers, presentation of 11 debutants, and a grand ball with music by Un-Reconstructed.  Over 350 people attended this event in beautiful period or contemporary formal wear.  The 11 debutants were all presented as descendants of Confederate soldiers and represented the true beauty of a Southern young woman.  Mrs. Cynthia Hayes of Dillon and Ms. Stephanie Mayfield of Simpsonville were in charge of the debutants.

The evening ended with the traditional singing of Dixie followed by Auld Lang Syne.

Next year’s reunion will be held in Montgomery, AL, sight of the first White House of the Confederacy.

 

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