 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| HIGHLANDER DISPATCH |
(7)
|
JANUARY
2003
|
|
What is the The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy
personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty
and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight
the Second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate
soldiers fought underscored their belief in the rights guaranteed
by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning of our
democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation
was built. Proof of kinship to a Confederate soldier can take many forms. The easiest method is to contact the archives of the state from which the soldier fought and obtain a copy of the veteran's military service record. All Southern state's archives have microfilm records of the soldiers who fought from that state, and a copy of the information can be obtained for a nominal fee. In addition, the former Confederate states awarded pensions to veterans and their widows. All of these records contain a wealth of information that can be used to document military service. The SCV has a network of genealogists to assist you in tracing you ancestor's Confederate service. Plus any Dillard-Judd Camp member can and will assist you. The SCV has ongoing programs at the local, state, and national levels which offer members a wide range of activities. Preservation work, marking Confederate soldier's graves, historical re-enactments, scholarly publications, and regular meetings to discuss the military and political history of the War Between the States are only a few of the activities sponsored by local units, called camps. All state organizations, known as Divisions, hold annual |
conventions, and many publish regular newsletters to the membership dealing with statewide issues. Each Division has a corps of officers elected by the membership who coordinate the work of camps and the national organization. Nationally, the SCV is governed by its members acting through delegates to the annual convention. The General Executive Council, composed of elected and appointed officers, conducts the organization's business between conventions. The administrative work of the SCV is conducted at the national headquarters, 'Elm Springs,' a restored ante-bellum home at Columbia, Tennessee. In addition to the privilege of belonging to an organization devoted exclusively to commemorating and honoring Confederate soldiers, members are eligible for other benefits. Every member receives The Confederate Veteran, the bi-monthly national magazine which contains in-depth articles on the war along news affecting Southern heritage. The programs of the SCV range from assistance to undergraduate students through the General Stand Watie Scholarship to medical research grants given through the Brooks Fund. National historical symposiums, reprinting of rare books, and the erection of monuments are just a few of the other projects endorsed by the SCV. The SCV works in conjunction with other historical groups to preserve Confederate history. However, it is not affiliated with any other group other than the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, composed of male descendants of the Southern Officers Corps. The SCV rejects any group whose actions tarnish or distort the image of the Confederate soldier or his reasons for fighting. If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that
motivated your Confederate ancestor, the SCV needs you. If you would like more information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans, call 1-800-MY-SOUTH, or 1-800-MY-DIXIE. Or write to:
|