Ladies, Gentleman…. and the rest of ya.
I’d like to take a little of your time because I’m not sure if everyone realizes what has happened. Some of you will agree….. maybe just in part and some of you might disagree with what I’m going to point out.
I’d like you to think about everything that has happened since you either joined the SCV…. UDC…. or other Southern organizations….. or just got involved in trying to save our Confederate history.
The SCV purchase of a national headquarters….. when they didn’t have the money…. and the gathering of all it’s historical records in one place where they could be preserved.
The one hundredth convention of the SCV in Richmond, Va.
All the flag battles which includes putting a Confederate flag on the grounds of the last capitol of the Confederacy in Danville…. along with the erection of other flags around the country.
Saving some battle fields….. or at least parts of them.
A statue of Gen. Longstreet at Gettysburg……. a statue of Gen. Forrest and other new statues.
The rallies…… Columbia, SC being the largest and followed by the one in Montgomery, Al (not sponsored by the SCV) and another in Austin, TX…. as well as several others.
The special convention in Concord, NC.
Finding the CSA Hunley and all the ceremony that went with it.
The burial of several Confederates through the years.
Ceremonies and the placement of headstones in cemeteries around the country.
All the celebrations of our Southern holidays….. re-enactments and parades.
I’m not trying to steal the glory….. the hard work….. the dedication, time and money spent on any of these. They were all important in keeping our Southern history and culture alive.
However, I’m not sure if people understand the huge victory just won. I can find nothing in the history of the SCV to compare with it. It is such a battle won that we have to go all the way back to the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) themselves to find something to compare it with. The victory of getting their state pensions and a promise from the federal government of a headstone when they died…… or their “Old Solders Homes.”
It’s on the scale of the UDC placing of monuments on every county court house in the South dedicated to the Confederate solders…. and the bringing home of the Gettysburg dead. Bigger than Stone Mountain.
As far as Confederate is concerned…… this is the biggest VICTORY that we have seen in our life time. Although only half the battle has been won…. completed…… there should be dancing in the streets of Dixie… just as it was when news spread through out the South that the battle of Manassas had been won.
This is Sunday morning……. prayers of praise and thanks and the asking of blessings to complete the victory should be sent to God in heaven while on our knees.
This has been a long hard battle. It started some 16 or 17 years ago when a man named John Crouch brought attention to the condition of Oakwood before the SCV. Some ten years were wasted with internal fighting. This last 6 or 7 years a small group of men have dedicated themselves….. their time and money to win this battle. Out manned, out gunned, they fought a gentleman’s war from the halls of the Capitol in Richmond to Richmond city hall against politically correct politicians and a thousand hecklers. Only by their dedication, perseverance and God’s blessing did they win.
But like I said…… only half the battle has been won. Now it is up to all of us to join in the fight. Under the same leadership that got Oakwood this far there will be request for your time and money. Will you serve? Will you take part in the greatest Confederate battle of your life time? Do you have a Confederate ancestor buried in Oakwood cemetery?
Some 17,200 headstones will be placed. Not in just some hap hazard manor but in straight perfect lines. These are not just any headstones…. they are Confederate gray granite and each one will have the Southern Cross of honor on it.. along with name and other information…… they are not the white marble stone that deteriorate with time and the writing can’t be read. They are beautiful up right stones.
Much more is planned for Oakwood. The up keep is now under the control of the SCV. The grass will be prettier than a golf course. New 17 foot high fence. Streets repaired. Monuments repaired. It will become a show place of how Southerners care for the men who fought and died defending the South.
Left under the control of the men who got Oakwood this far…… it will be a better cemetery than Arlington.
Soon…… you will start hearing more about Oakwood and what’s needed. At that time I hope you will remember that this is the biggest project ever under taken by the SCV. When completed it will out shine anything the SCV has ever done.
Even if you are not a member of the SCV you can still take part in this. If you consider yourself a Southern Patriot, if you have Confederate ancestors…… it’s time for you to support the men who are rebuilding Oakwood cemetery. This will be a multi-million dollar project.
And let us not forget to say “THANK YOU” to the members of the Oakwood Committee. They have done a wonderful job. Most of them not living in Richmond…… they had to travel hundreds of miles to and from as often as twice a week for the last several years. Suffer many disappointments and kinks in the process. All Southerners owe them a huge dept of gratitude.
For those of you who might have missed seeing it I will include below what Compatriot, Tom Davis, a member of the Oakwood Committee posted.
Thank you for your time,
Robert Howlett…… “Tubby”
Members of the Virginia Division Oakwood Restoration Committee installed the first upright headstones in the Confederate Section of Oakwood Cemetery, Friday July 17, 2009.
This is the beginning of a project that has been long in the making.
Installation was done by Lee Hart, Tommy Mondy Grayson Jennings and Tom Davis, all members of the Virginia Division SCV.
John Kindred of Georgia and members of the Oakwood Advisory Board had a roster to start with of about 8000 names out of the 17200 Confederate Soldiers buried there. Through extensive research including the 8000, they now have identified 3400 more bringing the total to 11400 of the17200.
The Confederate section is 10 acres in size and composed of sub-sections and identified rows. John Kindred is completing identification in one sub-section. Stones will be ordered in small lots and installed on a section by section basis.
There are Southern heroes buried in this Cemetery from every state in the Confederacy. All efforts are being made to make this a place of honor for our Confederate Died.
Plans are in the making to organize an organization of “Descendants and Friends of Oakwood”. More information will become available as plans are finalized. Don’t miss the opportunity of being a part of helping this dream come true.
Tom Davis
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