History of the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525, 2002-2003

CAMP HISTORY

August 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003

VICTORIAN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, 14 DECEMBER 2002

HERITAGE SQUARE PARK, PHOENIX, ARIZONA

On 14 December 2002 the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 once again took part in the Victorian Holiday Celebration held at historic Heritage Square Park in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The event celebrates Arizona's history during the Victorian Era, 1880 to 1912, and the Camp's display highlighted the contributions made by Confederate Veterans during the said time period. The display was visited by dozens of people throughout the day, and the Camp made some promising contacts which may yield future members, so it was a very successful event for the Camp. This year the Camp display was shared with the Thunderbird Chapter 2108 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and their assistance is deeply appreciated!

MANNING THE DISPLAY

Pictured with the Camp's display are (left to right) Robert Perkins, Past Commander of the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525, Tom Tatum, current Commander of Camp 1525, and Deanna Adams of the Thunderbird Chapter 2108, U.D.C., who is also President of the Arizona Division of the U.D.C.

EDUCATING THE PUBLIC

Pictured is Robert Perkins, who is shown answering questions about Confederate military uniforms and equipment for a group of Cub Scouts who stopped by the display. The Camp display was viewed by, and historical questions were answered for, many people throughout the day...furthering the S.C.V.'s primary goal of public education in a positive way.

CONFEDERATE HEROES DAY, 18 JANUARY 2003

BEST WESTERN EXECUTIVE PARK HOTEL, PHOENIX, ARIZONA

On 18 January 2003 the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 hosted, in association with the Arizona Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Arizona Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the 11th Annual Confederate Heroes Day celebration at the Best Western Executive Park Hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. This celebration (formerly known here in Arizona as Lee and Jackson Day) honours the many Confederate leaders whose birthdays fall during the month of January, with special emphasis on General Robert E. Lee, Lt. General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, Lt. General James Longstreet, Major General George Pickett, and Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury. A good crowd of about 40 people attended this year's celebration, representing all five Camps of the Arizona Sons of Confederate Veterans, and all Chapters of the Arizona United Daughters of the Confederacy, as well as our friends from Camp Picacho Peak, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

TRIVIA CONTEST

As always, one of the highlights of the event was the annual Trivia Contest, which, consistent with the change in focus of the celebration itself from one celebrating Lee and Jackson specifically to one celebrating Confederate Heroes in general, consisted of questions of a more general nature this year. Pictured are (at left) Stacy McSwain, President of the Thunderbird Chapter 2108 of the U.D.C., and Tom Tatum, Commander of Camp 1525, S.C.V. The attendees were divided into teams for the competition, the teams being named after the honourees of the event (Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, Pickett and Maury). Tom asked the questions and Stacy kept score using a novel method...a miniature horse race in which each team's horse was moved forward one space for each correct answer, the first team to reach the finish line winning the competition.

RAFFLE WINNER

Another highlight of the event, as always, was the various raffles held by the organizations attending. The Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 raffled off a Robert E. Lee Commemorative Bowie Knife, with display plaque, by the Franklin Mint. Nolan "Buddy" Chasteen, Commander of the Captain Robert Rodes Nelson Camp 1647 (Prescott, Arizona) and also Lt. Commander of the Arizona Division, S.C.V., was the (extremely happy!) winner of the knife. He is pictured at left, with Camp 1525 Commander Tom Tatum.

CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST WEEKEND, 8-9 MARCH 2003

PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK, PICACHO, ARIZONA

Over the weekend of March 8 and 9, 2003, the Arizona Department of Parks and Recreation hosted the annual Civil War in the Southwest Weekend of battle reenactments and living history encampments at Picacho Peak State Park, located on Interstate 10 about 40 miles north of Tucson, Arizona. Picacho Peak State Park is on the site of Arizona's only War Between the States battle. Four of the five Arizona Camps (Captain Hunter's Arizona Rangers Camp 1202, Tucson; Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525, Phoenix; Captain Granville H. Oury Camp 1708, Scottsdale; and Confederate Secret Service Camp 1710, Sierra Vista) of the Sons of Confederate Veterans attended, as well as one Chapter of the Arizona Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy (Thunderbird Chapter 2102, Phoenix). All were housed in a large tent provided by Past Arizona Division Commander Glenn Meek, and offered membership information, raffle tickets, flags and other items to the public. Camp 1525 was represented at the event by Commander Tom Tatum, who recruited and sold raffle tickets for an authentic Union Eagle cartridge belt breast plate which was found near Petersburg, Virginia by Camp 1525 Compatriot Steve Johnson. Funds raised benefit the Camp 1525 Projects Fund.

THE S.C.V. PAVILION

This year, the various Camps of Sons of Confederate Veterans, rather than each maintaing their own recruiting and information booths, hosted a joint recruiting effort under a large pavilion tent. Thanks to Compatriot Curt Tipton for the photo!

COMMANDER TATUM RECRUITS

Pictured above, seated at center (third from left, in kepi) is Camp 1525 Commander Tom Tatum, who ably represented our Camp at the event. Tom is engaged, along with some members of other S.C.V. Camps, in discussion with a potential recruit who visited the S.C.V. pavilion. Thanks to Compatriot John Mohler for the photo!

U.D.C. CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY, 26 APRIL 2003

WESLEY BOLEN PARK, PHOENIX, ARIZONA

On April 26, 2003 the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 attended the Confederate Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Arizona Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy at Wesley Bolen Park, just across from the Arizona State Capitol Building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. As usual, the Daughters conducted a lovely ceremony, and we are very honoured to have attended and participated.

MUSKET SALUTE

The mixed S.C.V./Arizona Civil War Council Honour Guard fires a salute in honour of the Confederate dead. Two members from Camp 1525 participated in the salute...Past Commander Robert Perkins, and Camp Adjutant Larry Billar. Also firing were two members of the Captain Granville H. Oury Camp 1708 (Scottsdale, Arizona)...Commander Ron Fox and Adjutant Larry Hammack. Also attended from Camp 1525 were Chaplain Steve Johnson, Past Chaplain Bob Baxter, Camp Commander Tom Tatum, and new Compatriot Sam Perkins.

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